madtowndrunkard
Cadet
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2007
- Messages
- 13
I know nothing about boat motors so here it goes. I purchased a 16 foot fishing boat w/ a 1978 55hp Johnson. It's electric start, steering wheel, shifter, etc. It ran good as far as I could tell. I've ran it wide open and it didn't studder or anything like that. It starts right up most of the time. Occasionally after running it a while, then shutting down, I'll try to restart it and it will not start....like maybe I flooded it? If I let it sit for about 20 minutes and turn the key w/ the choke off it will then restart. I've been stuck on the lake for 30 minutes before trying to restart it - then suddenly it starts? why does it do this? Did I flood it?
Last week I decided to change the plugs, I was told the plugs were burnt up pretty good when I showed them to the parts guy at the boat shop. I then drained he lower unit and the grease came out yellow, thick, and stinky. I filled it with new grease, and I was told the lower unit seals must be bad.
So I took the boat out after changing the plugs and grease and it stuttered and would kill while idling about 5 times before I could get it into gear and start moving. When I accelerated it bogged down and would quit. I restarted it and let it idle for about 5 minutes, then took off and it ran better then ever. I mean it REALLY ran well - I nearly killed my self going so fast and hitting some pretty big waves. I'm wondering if the plugs were not firing in both cylinders before? It never ran so fast w/ such good acceleration and top speed - though I didn't think it was slow before.
I was told a seal kit for my motor is about $65 and it's pretty easy to install. Is this true? or should I take it in and have them do it for about $250? Were can I find instructions to do this?
I'm also wondering if there is anything I should have checked on this motor? Timing? Water pump? I've heard that I should check the impeller? ( I have no clue what that is) Is there anything that should be greased? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Last week I decided to change the plugs, I was told the plugs were burnt up pretty good when I showed them to the parts guy at the boat shop. I then drained he lower unit and the grease came out yellow, thick, and stinky. I filled it with new grease, and I was told the lower unit seals must be bad.
So I took the boat out after changing the plugs and grease and it stuttered and would kill while idling about 5 times before I could get it into gear and start moving. When I accelerated it bogged down and would quit. I restarted it and let it idle for about 5 minutes, then took off and it ran better then ever. I mean it REALLY ran well - I nearly killed my self going so fast and hitting some pretty big waves. I'm wondering if the plugs were not firing in both cylinders before? It never ran so fast w/ such good acceleration and top speed - though I didn't think it was slow before.
I was told a seal kit for my motor is about $65 and it's pretty easy to install. Is this true? or should I take it in and have them do it for about $250? Were can I find instructions to do this?
I'm also wondering if there is anything I should have checked on this motor? Timing? Water pump? I've heard that I should check the impeller? ( I have no clue what that is) Is there anything that should be greased? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.