How do you tune the carbs on a 72' 65 HP Johnson?

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Jul 22, 2012
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I have a 1972 Johnson 65ESL72S 65hp. It'll run flat out fine and I can get idleling good on muffs but it don't like idleing through idle zones. Can anybody tell me how to tune the carbs right? Because I'm evedently doing it wrong. :facepalm:
 

Daviet

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Re: How do you tune the carbs on a 72' 65 HP Johnson?

It takes patience when working with three carbs. How are you setting them, is your base idle speed set at 700-750 rpm in the water and in gear? Are your carbs clean, might be you need to clean them prior to adjustments.
 
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Jul 22, 2012
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Re: How do you tune the carbs on a 72' 65 HP Johnson?

I think my idle speed is around there I don't have a tach. But I been trying to set them on the muffs. Should I take it out on the lake to work on it?
 

Daviet

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Re: How do you tune the carbs on a 72' 65 HP Johnson?

You can static set them, but to fine tune them, the engine should be in the water and the engine in gear and warmed up. You really need to know the RPM that the engine is turning, after you get the carbs set you are going to have to reset the idle to the proper RPM.
 

Joe Reeves

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Re: How do you tune the carbs on a 72' 65 HP Johnson?

I have a 1972 Johnson 65ESL72S 65hp. Can anybody tell me how to tune the carbs right? Because I'm evedently doing it wrong. :facepalm:

(Carburetor Adjustment - Single S/S Adjustable Needle Valve)
(J. Reeves)

Initial setting is: Slow speed = seat gently, then open 1-1/2 turns.

Start engine and set the rpms to where it just stays running. In segments of 1/8 turns, start to turn the S/S needle valve in. Wait a few seconds for the engine to respond. As you turn the valve in, the rpms will increase. Lower the rpms again to where the engine will just stay running.

Eventually you'll hit the point where the engine wants to die out or it will spit back (sounds like a mild backfire). At that point, back out the valve 1/4 turn. Within that 1/4 turn, you'll find the smoothest slow speed setting.

Note 1: As a final double check setting of the slow speed valve(s), if the engine has more than one carburetor, do not attempt to gradually adjust all of the valves/carburetors at the same time. Do one at a time until you hit the above response (die out or spit back), then go on to the next valve/carburetor. It may be necessary to back out "all" of the slow speed adjustable needle valves 1/8 turn before doing this final adjustment due to the fact that one of the valves might be initially set ever so slightly lean.

Note 2: If the engine should be a three (3) cylinder engine with three (3) carburetors, start the adjustment sequence with the center carburetor.

When you have finished the above adjustment, you will have no reason to move them again unless the carburetor fouls/gums up from sitting, in which case you would be required to remove, clean, and rebuild the carburetor anyway.
 
Joined
Jul 22, 2012
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Re: How do you tune the carbs on a 72' 65 HP Johnson?

Thanks guys. I'm gonna go out sunday and see if I can get this thing going right. It runs good everywhere else except Idlezone speed. I'll let you know how it comes out. Thanks again.
 
Joined
Jul 22, 2012
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Re: How do you tune the carbs on a 72' 65 HP Johnson?

Thanks for all the help. I got it singing like a song. When we went to leave from fishing afterwards I just bumped the key and it fired right up and I can run in any rage now.
 
Joined
Jul 22, 2012
Messages
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Re: How do you tune the carbs on a 72' 65 HP Johnson?

Thanks for all the help. I got it singing like a song. When we went to leave from fishing afterwards I just bumped the key and it fired right up and I can run in any rage now.
 
Joined
Jul 22, 2012
Messages
9
Re: How do you tune the carbs on a 72' 65 HP Johnson?

Thanks for all the help. I got it singing like a song. When we went to leave from fishing afterwards I just bumped the key and it fired right up and I can run in any rage now.:D
 
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