2000 Johnson 150 Outboard--- Not running on full power

I have recently been have problems with my johnson motor. I went out to run it to make sure it was ready to go for the summer but right before I was going to put it on the trailer, it seemed like i lost half my power. It had run fine before but now all a sudden i just did'nt have the power to plane off and sounded off. A friend of mine told me that this motor has a mode in idle where it only runs on 2 cyclinders, but i dont know if this is true. Im thinking that maybe the motor is not switching out of this mode and is trying to run on 2 cylinders in foward. What makes me think this is when i put it in reverse, exhaust spurts out for a second and it sounds normal and has full power. But i would be grateful if any one has knowledge or experience to maybe diagnose my motor and save me a trip to the motor shop. Thanks William Flake

Re: 2000 Johnson 150 Outboard--- Not running on full power

Get an open air gap spark tester, set it at 7/16 " and check your spark when it acts up. First place to start. You can buy the tester for around $8.00 at most parts houses. Your friend is thinking of a different mtr.

Re: 2000 Johnson 150 Outboard--- Not running on full power

You didn't give a model number, but I looked up J150SPLSSC as a guide.
Find it on shop.evinrude.com.

Sounds like the shift switch. He plays with shifting...reverse...seems to be OK for a while.
Just disconnect the shift switch lead(s) from the powerpack and re-try it.
If it fixes the problem, repair the shift switch, switch holder, etc.

If you look at the parts page "Cylinder and Crankcase" this ref number for the switch is #75, and it fits into #45.
This will help you locate it down low on the stbd side of the block. Probably below the level of the top of the side cowling

Re: 2000 Johnson 150 Outboard--- Not running on full power

Still best to check the spark. If none on cyls 1,3 and 5 then go for the shift switch.

Re: 2000 Johnson 150 Outboard--- Not running on full power

Thanks all y'all for the replies. I'm sorry I didn't list a model number daselbee but that is the right model number for the motor. I went outside today and checked the spark plugs and found that the motor was not running on the cylcs on the port side of the motor (I'm assuming that is cycl 1, 3, and 5). I immediately knew it must be something related to the powerpack. Thanks for the replies because I was about to go out and buy a new powerpack! I will run the motor tommorrow with out the shift switch hooked up and report back. Thanks!

Re: 2000 Johnson 150 Outboard--- Not running on full power

On the V6 150s, the shift switch kills port bank. On V6 loopers, 200, 225, 250, it kills the stbd bank.

I always wondered why OMC did that.