1988 johnson 48 special

[69starcraft]

I just bought a 1988 Johnson 48 special. unfortunatly I did not hear it run first (mistake) but he assured me it was drop on ready. It was a private sale so it's mine now.

So I dropped it on the boat and put it in a bucket.

Couple questions:

It seems the choke does not work. Push the button and nothing happens. On the side of the motor is a red lever that appears to be a vacuum solenoid to operate the choke?? There is some kind of round thing with a purple and black wire attached. If someone could explain the mechanism here would be appreciated

We got it started, and idling in the bucket she is just Chuff chuffing every so often. Its not the smoothest idle, and it seems to hiccup and it shudders when it hiccups...

Goosed it just a little and she took off to the high rpms screaming..I shut it down immed

Waited, restarted and is idling again....afraid to goose it again

Opinons and help would be welcome. If I keep it I will buy a manual. However I am worried already and have already had a previous bad experience with an older outboard (money pit) before so I am gun shy

Is it a good motor? I paid $600 for it with the controls and it looks real clean. I have no more idea of it's history than "it runs good Bo"

Seems easy to work on, and has 140 - 145 about on both cylinders

I could pull the carbs if someone has the settings real quick

Help!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1988 johnson 48 special

it is a great motor, buy a set of Muffs to run it on. that is a big motor for a bucket.

you have great compression. did you also do a spark check?

i would clean and rebuild the carbs with kits. also replace the impeller, and change fuel lines to the alcohol resistant lines.

i have several of these motors. carb cleaning is in the TOP SECRET FILE. there are not any adjustments to that carb.

Primer Solenoid
the primer replaced the old choke butterflies in the carborators, pushing in the key activates it, like the old choke plates, but injects fuel directly into the intake.
The red handle is used when your battery is dead, and you have to rope start. You move the handle 180 degrees.
Normal operating position is with the handle back over the body of the solenoid, like in the picture below.

make sure the connections are clean, usually that is the cause it does not click.

 

[69starcraft]

Re: 1988 johnson 48 special

it is a great motor, buy a set of Muffs to run it on. that is a big motor for a bucket.

you have great compression. did you also do a spark check?

i would clean and rebuild the carbs with kits. also replace the impeller, and change fuel lines to the alcohol resistant lines.

i have several of these motors. carb cleaning is in the TOP SECRET FILE. there are not any adjustments to that carb.

Primer Solenoid
the primer replaced the old choke butterflies in the carborators, pushing in the key activates it, like the old choke plates, but injects fuel directly into the intake.
The red handle is used when your battery is dead, and you have to rope start. You move the handle 180 degrees.
Normal operating position is with the handle back over the body of the solenoid, like in the picture below.

make sure the connections are clean, usually that is the cause it does not click.

Wow Thanks!

So this is a pretty solid motor? I can break the carbs down now and see what in there. Funny, the solenoid is now clicking and working properly

Still Chuff Chuffs at idle
What about timing? is it adjustable and how?

Carbs look easy to remove and clean

Shee "pees" right away and is a strong stream.

So I should get a manual and keep it? Still leery.

Btw I know my way around a wrench and a car, but am not an outboard mech

oh, and the "bucket" is a 50 gallon picklebarrel...submerges the whole lower unit sorry

thanks

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1988 johnson 48 special

get a manual http://www.outboardbooks.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=models.main&year=1988&ID=137824

free diagrams part list here : http://shop2.evinrude.com/ext/index.aspx?s1=bf6ad09c53cead335fcfd8a6471c0f7f

timing: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=228183

once your carbs are clean, it should ldle better.

you have good compression, and spark, it is well worth getting it running right. easy to work on.