1973 65hp Johnson wont run unless choked...

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1973johnson

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I recently came into posession of a 20 ft pontoon with a 1973 65hp Johnson on it. The motor had not ran in 3 yrs. because of repairs being made to the boat deck. I found a bad starter, neutral safety switch, and power pack before ever getting a spark. I pulled all 3 carbs and cleaned all orifices and parts with carb cleaner. I did not adjust anything on the carbs seeing as I have never messed with them besides just cleaning them. I got it running however I must keep the manual choke lever on the engine pulled out to allow it to run. New gas in the tank, any ideas?
 
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boobie

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Re: 1973 65hp Johnson wont run unless choked...

If you have to use the choke to keep it running it sounds like like you missed something in the carbs. Did you take them apart, soak them in carb cleaner, check the high speed jets and put new kits in them??
 
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ac0j

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Re: 1973 65hp Johnson wont run unless choked...

I agree, carbs still plugged, or not tight to the gasket at the motor.
 
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1973johnson

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Re: 1973 65hp Johnson wont run unless choked...

No i did not put new kits in them yet... yet being the key word. I wanted to make sure it would try to run before I put much more time and money into it. ( wife is upset as it is with the time and money I have spent working on the boat) How do I "check" the high speed jets?
 
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1973johnson

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Re: 1973 65hp Johnson wont run unless choked...

Pulled all carbs off again and found that my idle orifices were clogged. I cleaned them out previously ( within the last two weeks) not sure how that happened unless i had a little varnish or somethin from old gas in the tank. Cleaned carbs again and will be taking it out on the water Sunday so we'll see what happens.
 
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lmuss53

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Re: 1973 65hp Johnson wont run unless choked...

I'd put a fuel filter on just before the pump and make sure the tank is clean. The old lines are reported to deteriorate with ethanol fuel. You might want to replace them with known alky safe lines also. I replaced all the fuel lines from the tank to the Carb on my old 55.
 
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1973johnson

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Re: 1973 65hp Johnson wont run unless choked...

I just purchased a new fuel tank and fuel line with primer bulb. I didnt think about it until I saw the varnish in the carbs that I had just cleaned out. I had 6 month old gas in the tank and did not clean it after dumping the fuel out. Is there any way to clean the old tank of the varnish?
 
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1973johnson

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Re: 1973 65hp Johnson wont run unless choked...

Pulled the carbs back off again, and found that the oricfices were clogged again... I know I cleaned them out before... so after I cleaned them I replaced the fuel tank and fuel line and bulb. New gas in a NEW tank and an adjustment of the throttle and she's running good... Thanks for your help....
 
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