RKL-24 no power

vintage MFG

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I have an RKL-24, (62 Johnson 40HP elec shift), EVERYTHING has been replaced (New-reman) except for the internal engine parts, 88psi comp, normal low hr cond. This engine does everything the way its supposed to do except "GO" under full throttle. it runs about 10mph. YES it is WOT, it will rev in the tank in the driveway (in gear) but not when its in the lake actually pushin the boat. it starts great, warms up and idles as it should. 'EVERYTHING" means--- Tank, Fuel line-A1/primer and couplers (quality), Fuel pump, Carb, petal plate, Water line-B1, Cut off switch, Coils, Points @.020, Condensers (Napa/Johnson), Plugs @.030 (Autolight), wires are fine, Water pump. Synchronization is spot on the mark. Carb is set as lean as it will allow, Plugs come out 'wet', fuel is Amsoil @50:1, Lake alt is at a claimed 4880ft. Boat has run as it should in the past in this lake in 1989. replaced everything because it sat so long, its been in the garage its whole life, orig owner. it should run good as new, Please help, cant take much more head banging. Thanks
mail

Hoping you may have some ideas, Thanks for any help you may provide.
 

racerone

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Does spark jump an actual gap of 1/4" or more , yes or no ?----Is the high speed jet in the carburetor bowl clean ?---And what number is on the jet ?-----You must look into the low compression.----Or remove bypass covers to look at pistons and rings !----And in the driveway ---" in gear " ----is still neutral.-----Prop does not have to work to move air.----I say it is running on 1 cylinder.
 
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kbait

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Perform cylinder drop test..pull one plug wire at a time at high idle. If pulling one plug wire makes no rpm change, that cylinder is not producing power. Spark, reeds, crankcase seal etc..
Good luck!
 

F_R

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Does it run better with the hood off (or door open)?
 

vintage MFG

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with hood off, cable (idle) adjustment is in the middle, hood on it needs to be adjusted all the way to the front end of the cable or it will die when put in gear. other than that it doesint seem to run different
 

vintage MFG

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Does it run better with the hood off (or door open)?
with hood off, cable (idle) adjustment is in the middle, hood on it needs to be adjusted all the way to the front end of the cable or it will die when put in gear. other than that it doesint seem to run different
 

F_R

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There is an o-ring (#63) on top of the pump housing, and two more on the long shaft extension spacer (68). If any of those o-rings and/or the spacer are missing, it will have a dramatic effect on the running of the motor with the hood on or off, due to smoke inhalation.

Pump o-rings.jpg
 

vintage MFG

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There is an o-ring (#63) on top of the pump housing, and two more on the long shaft extension spacer (68). If any of those o-rings and/or the spacer are missing, it will have a dramatic effect on the running of the motor with the hood on or off, due to smoke inhalation.

View attachment 352232
yes, they are new
 

racerone

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Is throttle plate opening all the way ?------I think it should be easy to figure this motor out.----But your motor is 1272 miles away !
 

vintage MFG

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Is throttle plate opening all the way ?------I think it should be easy to figure this motor out.----But your motor is 1272 miles away !
yes it is open, synchronization is on point, and I agree it should be and probly is something simple. with 'everything' being new and all adjustments etc... done by the book (seloc) it should simply run like new. thats what has brought me to the forums to get some other input, cuz im missing something. agreed 1272 mi. is a little too far.
 

racerone

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I consider the compression to be LOW.----So either your gauge is bad or there are motor issues there.----Have you looked at pistons / rings through the bypass covers , yes , no or no idea how that is done ?
 

vintage MFG

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yes it is open, synchronization is on point, and I agree it should be and probly is something simple. with 'everything' being new and all adjustments etc... done by the book (seloc) it should simply run like new. thats what has brought me to the forums to get some other input, cuz im missing something. agreed 1272 mi. is a little too far.
1 thing that makes no sense is, carb has been rebuilt and adjusted by the book, plugs are stock and new, burning the same, compression is 88psi in both cyls (dry), and the plugs come out fuel fouled, where's the fuel coming from?, why isint it burning it? wet plugs are defiantly gonna kill power, thinkin about changing the float level and hotter plugs.?
 

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vintage MFG

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I consider the compression to be LOW.----So either your gauge is bad or there are motor issues there.----Have you looked at pistons / rings through the bypass covers , yes , no or no idea how that is done ?
have not pulled the covers, only the head. was able to determine the ring are not stuck. scoring on the exhaust side, still crosshatch on intake.
 

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racerone

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Sorry to bring you sad news.----The motor MUST come apart for rebuilding , repair work !!
 

vintage MFG

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Sorry to bring you sad news.----The motor MUST come apart for rebuilding , repair work !!
thing that makes no sense is in 1989 it ran as it should (WOT) was put in the garage till this year, reconditioned. it should at least run as it did in 89. I'm avoiding rebuilding due to justifying cost and parts availability to put it towards repower. Its not out of the question, just want it to run as it did then ill make a decision on rebuild or otherwise
 

F_R

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So, have you done the cylinder drop test or not?
 

oldboat1

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The high speed jet is on the bottom front of the carb bowl under the screw. It needs to be squeaky clean (piece of sturdy monofilament and carb spray can be sufficient.) Additionally, the nozzle holes have to be open, and the gasket has to be in place at the bottom of the nozzle.

Use the manual choke lever until you get the issues figured out.
 

vintage MFG

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So, have you done the cylinder drop test or not?
found bad plug wire yesterday new wires today, just got dun putting everything away from runnin it in my 50 gal lake, found #1 is dead, so with everything new ill start at the obvious and go from there. want to put it in the lake mon
 
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