Replaced Plugs....Are These Normal?

[phipps]

I replaced the plugs on my 95 28HP Johnson today. I have attached pics of the plugs I removed. Do they look normal? I was thinking they looked fouled.

I was also able to get rid of the "lean sneeze" at idle by adjusting the low speed screw out, although when I came back later it started sneezing again so I had to adjust it again. I had put some SeaFoam in the gas so I'm thinking maybe some gunk got caught in the needle and messing with it cleared it out. I know I need to clean the carb, but I'm hoping to nurse it through the season and do it over the winter.

I still cannot get it to throttle past half throttle without dying. I tried squeezing the primer bulb as I throttled it up and it still died so I don't think it's the fuel pump. Would a clogged high speed orifice cause this? (I don't think I have a high speed adjustable needle) Could someone confirm whether I am correct in that my carb has only one adjustable needle valve? Can I remove the high speed orifice, clean and put it back in without tearing the carb apart?

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Replaced Plugs....Are These Normal?

What plugs are those? What did you put in?

I would start by checking the spark and compression. Be sure that the ignition ground is clean and tight. Very likely the carb needs a going over. Spitting back, sounding like a mild backfire, indicates a carb slow speed restricted jet..... something causing a lean carburetor scenario. Do this properly the first time, you cannot simply clean the jet/orifice. It really doesnt take that much time. Check out the FAQ for a thread by Tashasdaddy which will help.

 

[phipps]

Re: Replaced Plugs....Are These Normal?

Those are the plugs I removed. They were QL77JC4, which is what I replaced them with.

 

[iwombat]

Re: Replaced Plugs....Are These Normal?

Remember, in a 2-stroke the carbs deliver fuel AND LUBRICATION. If your jets are clogged you're starving the engine of oil. You don't want to let that go until winter.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Replaced Plugs....Are These Normal?

Those plugs dont look very nice. How do the new ones look now ???
As said above, restricted fuel flow = restricted lubrication to the motor.
Be careful !!!!

 

[phipps]

Re: Replaced Plugs....Are These Normal?

Everyone keeps saying those plugs don't look good, but doesn't explain. Could you please? I'm new to this and the more explanation the better!!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Replaced Plugs....Are These Normal?

plugs in a properly tuned motor, should be light brown, like toast, and clean. i would check spark should pump 1/2 inch, compression should be even, carbs have to be clean, fuel has to be mixed properly 50:1, and be fresh. the timing and carbs have to be link n sinc'd so they work together.

also that motor definately needs to be decarbed, to get the built up crud out of it. it is exlax for the motor.

Decarb, take a can of seafoam put 3/4 of it in the gas tank, with only 1 gallon of premixed gas. put the rest in a spray bottle. start the engine, and let it come up to temperature. then remove plugs, and them some real good shot of seafoam into the cylinders, replace plugs, let sit 15 minutes. restart, and spray the rest of the seafoam into the carbs, so the the motor almost stalls, wait and repeat until the seafoam is gone.then take for a wide open spin. then put in new plugs, ad premixed gas to the tank, and take it for a wide open throttle spin. it is going to smoke like a house on fire, during this process.

afterwards compression.recheck

 

[F_R]

Re: Replaced Plugs....Are These Normal?

"Reading" spark plugs for color went out the window on outboards years ago. The QL77JC4 is an extremely cold plug and will not get hot enough to burn the crud off when running at slow speeds. It is only because of the characteristics of CD ignition that they can fire even when crudded-up. On the other hand, you don't want to use hotter plugs because they can cause pre-ignition and burn holes in the pistons.

Your plugs do look like there is a bunch of carbon in them though.

 

[phipps]

Re: Replaced Plugs....Are These Normal?

Thanks tashasdaddy for the decarbing procedure. I picked up a can of Seafoam yesterday, but I only added 2oz per gallon to the fuel.

What size can Seafoam should I use when I do the decarb?

 

[Doh]

Re: Replaced Plugs....Are These Normal?

Actually carb gunk/varnish plugs up jets causing the mixture to lean out.

A lean mixture would burn the plugs White in colour, those plugs are definately running rich.

Do you do alot of trolling with this motor?

50:1 mixture is accurate at wide open throttle. At idle 2 strokes only need 100:1 mixture. But before oil injection, you had to run the mixture for the worse case senario.

Put the new plugs in, take the boat for a good 5-10 minute ride at WOT, shut it down and remove the plugs. As said eariler, they should have a dark toast/light coffee colour.

 

[phipps]

Re: Replaced Plugs....Are These Normal?

Thanks doh. Actually I just purchased the boat/motor so I haven't used it much at all. I don't know how the previous owner used it. At this point, I cannot take it out and run it at WOT as I can't go past half throttle without it dying. I took the carb off today and have a rebuild kit coming tomorrow. I'm hoping that after a good cleaning and rebuild of the carb I'll be able to get her up to WOT.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Replaced Plugs....Are These Normal?

Thanks doh. Actually I just purchased the boat/motor so I haven't used it much at all. I don't know how the previous owner used it. At this point, I cannot take it out and run it at WOT as I can't go past half throttle without it dying. I took the carb off today and have a rebuild kit coming tomorrow. I'm hoping that after a good cleaning and rebuild of the carb I'll be able to get her up to WOT.

Sounds like you have a bigger issue than we all first thought then. Have you done a compression check yet ???

 

[phipps]

Re: Replaced Plugs....Are These Normal?

Sounds like you have a bigger issue than we all first thought then. Have you done a compression check yet ???

No, not yet. My brother is coming up Labor Day weekend and he is bringing his compression tester with him.

What kind of problems do you think I may have?

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Replaced Plugs....Are These Normal?

Compression test and a spark test would be a great start. Further diagnosos would start from there. Go for the carb rebuild though and let us all know how it runs after that.

 

[phipps]

Re: Replaced Plugs....Are These Normal?

Thanks for all the ideas and suggestions. I will get back to you after I see what we find out next weekend.

 

[kjdunne]

Re: Replaced Plugs....Are These Normal?

You can not "overclean" a carb. I think you probably have gummed up high speed jets. Many people have blamed every other type of fuel delivery problem before thoroughly cleaning the carb(s). Get a rebuild kit, follow the procedure posted in the FAQ section of this forum, and make sure every part and orifice of the carb is spotless. You'll be amazed at the difference at how it runs. The high speed jets are at the bottom of the float bowl and sit in the "gunk" the most.

 

[cdoliver]

Re: Replaced Plugs....Are These Normal?

that looks like water to me

 

[phipps]

Re: Replaced Plugs....Are These Normal?

Rebuilt/cleaned it tonight. Was a lot easier than what I thought it was going to be. There was some greenish colored gummy substance at the bottom of the bowl around the high speed orifice.

cdoliver, the plugs did not seem like they have water on them. The black spots are "hard" and they feel more like they have oil on them.

 

[phipps]

Re: Replaced Plugs....Are These Normal?

Just thought I'd update this thread: I put the carb back on the motor tonight and fired her up. My son and I took the pontoon out for a spin and I was able to get her up to WOT!!!! We got up to 13MPH so I am very pleased. I was only figuring I'd get 10MPH or so on our 24ft pontoon.

The next time I get up to the lake I'm hoping to the decarb procedure tashasdaddy suggested. Maybe that will tweak a little bit more out the motor.