so close i can taste it

[minnus]

okay so after weeks of toiling and fixing things i got my johnson 1970 6hp running great for about ten mineuts. then back to the same old bogged down running. today i took off the flywheel filed and regaped the points(thanks to the top secret file). tested it out on the water all was great and then bogged, but i unplugged the bottom plug wire and no change, top one on the other hand instant kill. what is my problem? coil,condenser,wires,points, i am at a loss now and i am so close. is there any sure fire way to find out the problem or do i just have to replace all of it?

 

[moldeck]

Re: so close i can taste it

read my post on water comming out of cyclinder. I had same problem and it was a head gasket. My upper was the one with the problem, when I pulled off the plug wire while running the motor rpm did not change much and stalled if I pulled off the lower. I pulled the upper plug and started it, water misted out of the cyclinder. I am not a motor god so look for some more input.

 

[crxess]

Re: so close i can taste it

When you pulled the spark plug wire did you hear the wire arching or nothing? i.e. dead plug or no spark


Points could have stopped working again(been there) Any oily residue will stop the arch.
If points ok you can swap the coil to see if the problem moves to the other cylinder. Same with the Condenser.

 

[minnus]

Re: so close i can taste it

i didnt know anything about leveling the head for the gasket. Ill check that tommorow. also I didnt hear anything when i pulled the plug but i also wasnt listening for it. the only thing i noticed that was odd is the motor stopped spitting water then worked really good but when it started spitting again it stopped I didnt think it was related but the more i think about it, it seems to odd of a thing. could the water flow have anything to do with it? I am going to continue trying tommorrow so any help would be great. thanks for the quick replies guys.

 

[crxess]

Re: so close i can taste it

Re- read. I got tangled up in the 2 post.

It never hurts to do a compression check. Confirm both cylinders are close. Within 15%

You may simply have a bad condenser or coil.

If you pull the flywheel again inspect closely for oil accumulation. indication of top seal leak. could foul points.

 

[minnus]

Re: so close i can taste it

there was a little bit of oil i cleaned it out but if its there tommorrow when i check then ill have to change which seal?

 

[krogie]

Re: so close i can taste it

sounds like some electrical comp is heating up and ctting out. if you have a service manual it would help. coil , powerpack , points ? after you have done the basics like compression tests and spark tests theni would really look into these. good luck !!

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: so close i can taste it

Dude!
8 different threads on the same motor...bad form. Nobody can follow what you've done. Keep this one alive.....bump it back to the top till you get an answer. The forum is real busy and they get buried quick.
Have you:
Run a compression check with a compression gauge? You can get a loaner sometimes at an auto parts store.
Checked the spark with a spark tester? The "pull the plug" method is not very informative sometimes. The spark should jump at least 1/4" gap with a blue pop. I never got if you replaced any of the ignition components yet. If the coils are original, then they are probably shot. They can also fail when hot.

Eliminate those two things first with a definitive test, then you're left with fuel delivery. Check the fuel hoses on the engine. Mine were all cracked and were contaminating the carb with junk. On my engine (1970, 6 HP, same as yours), I replaced:
Points, condensers, coils (all Sierra parts,took twice to get it gapped right)
Carb kit (had to clean twice because of fuel line crap)
Fuel Pump and fuel lines (broken, full of bits, replaced w/Sierra 18-7350)
Oil recirc line (broken)
Impeller

 

[moldeck]

Re: so close i can taste it

The compression test will tell you if there is a problem in the internal motor, gasket, piston..... The spark test will tell you if you even need to go to the compression test and send you into the electrical to get that straight.
is the water not pumping a indication of the impeller may not be doing its job, or just the water level...??

 

[River Boy]

Re: so close i can taste it

okay so after weeks of toiling and fixing things i got my johnson 1970 6hp running great for about ten mineuts. then back to the same old bogged down running. today i took off the flywheel filed and regaped the points(thanks to the top secret file). tested it out on the water all was great and then bogged, but i unplugged the bottom plug wire and no change, top one on the other hand instant kill. what is my problem? coil,condenser,wires,points, i am at a loss now and i am so close. is there any sure fire way to find out the problem or do i just have to replace all of it?

So, it ran on both cylinders for a while (ran great for 10 minutes) then the bottom cylinder dumped on you. You've established that the top cylinder is running all the time but the bottom cylinder is intermitent. Take it out again (or put it in the barrel) again, but, WHEN THE BOTTOM CYLINDER CRAPS OUT IMMEDIATELY CHECK TO SEE IF YOU HAVE SPARK AT THE BOTTOM PLUG. This will tell you if it is an electricial problem in that bottom cylinder. Or not.
SPARK IN BOTTOM CYLINDER/PLUG= No electrical problem in that bank.
NO SPARK BOTTOM CYLINDER/PLUG= Electrical problem in that bank.

I bet it is though. I bet you got something opening up or grounding out intermittently in that bottom coil bank. This is a simple and won't cost U any more money until/unless you find a bad component.

Do this and get back with us.

 

[minnus]

Re: so close i can taste it

to tx1961. sorry didnt know you could just keep the same thread going but heres a rundown of what ive done. changed impeller,put in carb kit,new fuel lines, fixed broken water tube,powerhead gasket,new plugs, and decarbed with seafoam. all that said i am just learning as i go. I am ordering a tune up kit and a head gasket and coils. hopefully that can solve my problems but i am going to try to get a compression gauage tommorow and a spark tester. someone earlier said something about a top seal that could put oil in the flywheel but i cant find it on the schematics,would it be in the magneto or powerhead diagram. anyways thanks everyone for the help i will get back to you guys tommorow

 

[Deanrt]

Re: so close i can taste it

someone earlier said something about a top seal that could put oil in the flywheel but i cant find it on the schematics,

It's the seal for the crank shaft.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: so close i can taste it

to tx1961. sorry didnt know you could just keep the same thread going but heres a rundown of what ive done. changed impeller,put in carb kit,new fuel lines, fixed broken water tube,powerhead gasket,new plugs, and decarbed with seafoam. all that said i am just learning as i go. I am ordering a tune up kit and a head gasket and coils. hopefully that can solve my problems but i am going to try to get a compression gauage tommorow and a spark tester. someone earlier said something about a top seal that could put oil in the flywheel but i cant find it on the schematics,would it be in the magneto or powerhead diagram. anyways thanks everyone for the help i will get back to you guys tommorow

If the thread goes a day without answers, just reply to it yourself with "Bump" and move it up. It helps to have the motor year hp in the title. Lotsa people to help on the little old twins.

Probably the ignition kit will fix it. I just replace all of it up front on these old motors, so I don't have to chase it around for a month. If I don't know how old the stuff is in the ignition, I don't trust it, particularly the 50's-60's vintage coils
All of the ignition stuff can be found at iboats:
Ignition kit: 18-5006
Coils : 18-5181

 

[minnus]

Re: so close i can taste it

i am going to order those parts then and after i get them i will repost and keep you guys updated. thanks all

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: so close i can taste it

Good luck. Post back if it all works, or if you need more help.