Please help ease my anxiety... if possible.

[E_S_A_D]

Well, I'll condense the latest on my boat purchase saga. To say I'm disappointed and nervous wouldn't suffice.

Here's the deal: bought a used boat, which was tested and shown to run great on ear muffs. Ran for a day, it handled okay, but 'sputtery' and never seemed to reach full potential of speed/ pick up.
Took to mechanic, he cleaned carbs and rebuilt fuel filter on this 1972 Johnson 50 hp.

He took it out for test run and it still stalls while putting into gear, but NOT on ear muffs. So, shifting into gear and it stalls- won't run. He's baffled too.

Going to run a compression test in the a.m. (mechanic). He said if that checks out okay, then he'll consider and give us price on taking out carbs and cleaning out 'valves'. No idea what this means, but he said it could take several hours of labor.

So now my several hundred dollar boat, is becoming a real 'bummer'. Any ideas? Think the engine is blown if it runs great on ear muffs?

 

[Challenger84]

Re: Please help ease my anxiety... if possible.

clean the carbs yourself.
Do a little more research. look in the top secret files on this forum to help you.

 

[E_S_A_D]

Re: Please help ease my anxiety... if possible.

clean the carbs yourself.
Do a little more research. look in the top secret files on this forum to help you.

He already did. The bill is racking up as I type. I'm an engine moron, first to admit.

That being said, I just hope the compression test in the a.m. comes out okay. If not, I was dooped.

 

[Daviet]

Re: Please help ease my anxiety... if possible.

How did the mechanic set the idle on muffs?
Almost sounds like the idle is set to low to over come the backpressure of the exhaust, are the low speed needles set correctly?
Check the spark and compression.
By valves, I think he is talking about reed valves, not to sure that is the cause your problem.
Post back after you check compression and spark with results.

 

[Gilligan72]

Re: Please help ease my anxiety... if possible.

Hello,
If it was me I'd start with the cheap stuff first, according to the manual I've got the sympyoms you have suggest, The fuel system leaks air or there is restricted fuel flow, which could mean your fuel hose and or primer bulb is defective or the relief valve is clooged on the fuel tank, which I would think it would be the first place to start on a used boat, since plastic and rubber loves to dry rot. Her is the list of causes by symptom from the manual, least case scenario to worst.

[Powerhead Coughs/Spits at Idle]
1 fuel system leaks air
2 throttle linkage misadjusted
3 carburetor leaking air
4 intake manifold leaking air

[Powerhead Stalls during Acceleration]
1 restricted fuel supply
2 fuel pump malfunction
3 throttle linkage misadjusted
4 carburetor malfunction
5 intake manifold leaking air
6 reed plates bent or broken

 

[E_S_A_D]

Re: Please help ease my anxiety... if possible.

Hello,
If it was me I'd start with the cheap stuff first, according to the manual I've got the sympyoms you have suggest, The fuel system leaks air or there is restricted fuel flow, which could mean your fuel hose and or primer bulb is defective or the relief valve is clooged on the fuel tank, which I would think it would be the first place to start on a used boat, since plastic and rubber loves to dry rot. Her is the list of causes by symptom from the manual, least case scenario to worst.

[Powerhead Coughs/Spits at Idle]
1 fuel system leaks air
2 throttle linkage misadjusted
3 carburetor leaking air
4 intake manifold leaking air

[Powerhead Stalls during Acceleration]
1 restricted fuel supply
2 fuel pump malfunction
3 throttle linkage misadjusted
4 carburetor malfunction
5 intake manifold leaking air
6 reed plates bent or broken

Thanks so much for your post, and welcome to the board as a fellow new member. I'll look into these suggestions. I sure like the sound of these suggestions over a bad engine.

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Please help ease my anxiety... if possible.

Going to run a compression test in the a.m. (mechanic).

Hindsight is 20/20 & all but allways do a simple compression check BEFORE you buy a used OB motor
I know that & STILL drove 200 miles to buy a used pontoon with a 1981 Johnson 115 that "just needed a water pump" --
After visiting i felt i could trust the guy & just pulled the boat home, thank goodness i did the compression check before i went thru the work & exspense of a water pump job
One cylinder had 50psi - pulled the head & found a trashed cylinder

 

[Gilligan72]

Re: Please help ease my anxiety... if possible.

good luck and thanx

 

[E_S_A_D]

Re: Please help ease my anxiety... if possible.

Hindsight is 20/20 & all but allways do a simple compression check BEFORE you buy a used OB motor
I know that & STILL drove 200 miles to buy a used pontoon with a 1981 Johnson 115 that "just needed a water pump" --
After visiting i felt i could trust the guy & just pulled the boat home, thank goodness i did the compression check before i went thru the work & exspense of a water pump job
One cylinder had 50psi - pulled the head & found a trashed cylinder

Ughhh, that's my fear. If there is a bad cylinder, how much is it to fix? Any ideas, or is it like a $1000 for a $500 boat?

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Please help ease my anxiety... if possible.

Ughhh, that's my fear. If there is a bad cylinder, how much is it to fix? Any ideas, or is it like a $1000 for a $500 boat?

Thats close if your lucky

 

[jonesg]

Re: Please help ease my anxiety... if possible.

Well, I'll condense the latest on my boat purchase saga. To say I'm disappointed and nervous wouldn't suffice.

Here's the deal: bought a used boat, which was tested and shown to run great on ear muffs. Ran for a day, it handled okay, but 'sputtery' and never seemed to reach full potential of speed/ pick up.
Took to mechanic, he cleaned carbs and rebuilt fuel filter on this 1972 Johnson 50 hp.

He took it out for test run and it still stalls while putting into gear, but NOT on ear muffs. So, shifting into gear and it stalls- won't run. He's baffled too.

Going to run a compression test in the a.m. (mechanic). He said if that checks out okay, then he'll consider and give us price on taking out carbs and cleaning out 'valves'. No idea what this means, but he said it could take several hours of labor.

So now my several hundred dollar boat, is becoming a real 'bummer'. Any ideas? Think the engine is blown if it runs great on ear muffs?

get your boat outta there, he's not a mechanic in this lifetime.
sounds like a complete cowboy.
you've been warned.

 

[E_S_A_D]

Re: Please help ease my anxiety... if possible.

Mechanic mentioned it could be the valves if the compression is okay. Any idea on how much a reed valve job cost? I'm assuming he means reed valve?

 

[E_S_A_D]

Re: Please help ease my anxiety... if possible.

get your boat outta there, he's not a mechanic in this lifetime.
sounds like a complete cowboy.
you've been warned.

ughhh

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Please help ease my anxiety... if possible.

Mechanic mentioned it could be the valves if the compression is okay. Any idea on how much a reed valve job cost? I'm assuming he means reed valve?

Not cheep by any means but why worry till you find out
As been mentioned if your in doubt get a 2nd opinion ----

Had a "mechanic" tell me a couple yrs ago my red valves were bad on a Johnson 70 cause it was ideling way high & he culd'nt adjust them down
Took it home & did a link 'n sync & all was well

 

[bigpoppakdog]

Re: Please help ease my anxiety... if possible.

Tell us the compression readings.

 

[E_S_A_D]

Re: Please help ease my anxiety... if possible.

Tell us the compression readings.

Good news! Mechanic ran compression test today and it checked out good! Not sure of actual readings, but well within the good limits of the motor.

It shifts great on ear muffs without stalling out. In water under load is when it stalls going into gear. Getting the carbs rebuilt for under $200 total, which he said is the cause with the compression good.

I'm confused though, why would carbs make a difference under load but not in water? No idea on how this stuff works.