Hey all I am new here but figured id share some frustration. Purchased this sunbird from a friend of a friend, carbs supposedly gone through rectifier fuel pump etc. From the start the 88 spl never started well, definitely needed to be in neutral with some extra throttle then would kick over. No big deal used to it and was manageable. also slightly above idle in gear about canal cruising speed 5 mph or so it would have a stumble every 15 -20 seconds, yet again got used to it and managed to deal with it, slightly lower throttle it would be fine slightly higher it would be fine. Always ran like a top @ WOT, pushed the 17' sunbird to about 33-34mph or so.
Now onto the weekend, Beach area we go to and hang is shallow waters for sure been there in this boat several times and even in my 08' regal 2250 I recently sold, just get close trim up and shut it down never a problem. Now we were there for the day motor trimmed up didn't think anything of it, when we went to leave had a hard time starting, (trimmed down so water pickup was in water but still up enough to avoid hitting bottom). finally got it fired up let it sit for a few pushed into deeper water and went to go off, whelp that didn't go as planned motor was trying to cut out no matter what I did noticed the telltale wasn't great then suddenly lost trim and cut out. managed to get it started again with throttle and manually set trim down jumping across relay with relay out, got it home then started inspecting.
Found that it had gotten hot enough to melt (3) wires that come from the trim control box on rear of motor were relays were, these wires were laying on top of the cylinder head, made the repairs to them properly and trim functions perfect again. Now go for a test run motor does the same off idle stumble hasn't changed at WOT it doesn't skip a beat same 33-34 mph came back in and doing some maneuvering at the dock going to neutral and drive and reverse idle is lower than before and cut out (never happened before always stayed running) managed to get it to the dock and fired back up, checked cylinder head temps with infrared laser at idle both around 140-145 from side to side. now I am no expert with these motors by any means however I have more or less built my race/street car notchback from motor assembly to fuel system plumbing etc. did some searching online found these motors aren't fans of ngk plugs and of course ngkBR9HS 10 plugs are in it. question is more or less where would you guys start. I appreciate any help as I am not a parts changer by any means and don't wish to be, just looking for what some of you more experienced Johnson guys would start with. Thank you
Now onto the weekend, Beach area we go to and hang is shallow waters for sure been there in this boat several times and even in my 08' regal 2250 I recently sold, just get close trim up and shut it down never a problem. Now we were there for the day motor trimmed up didn't think anything of it, when we went to leave had a hard time starting, (trimmed down so water pickup was in water but still up enough to avoid hitting bottom). finally got it fired up let it sit for a few pushed into deeper water and went to go off, whelp that didn't go as planned motor was trying to cut out no matter what I did noticed the telltale wasn't great then suddenly lost trim and cut out. managed to get it started again with throttle and manually set trim down jumping across relay with relay out, got it home then started inspecting.
Found that it had gotten hot enough to melt (3) wires that come from the trim control box on rear of motor were relays were, these wires were laying on top of the cylinder head, made the repairs to them properly and trim functions perfect again. Now go for a test run motor does the same off idle stumble hasn't changed at WOT it doesn't skip a beat same 33-34 mph came back in and doing some maneuvering at the dock going to neutral and drive and reverse idle is lower than before and cut out (never happened before always stayed running) managed to get it to the dock and fired back up, checked cylinder head temps with infrared laser at idle both around 140-145 from side to side. now I am no expert with these motors by any means however I have more or less built my race/street car notchback from motor assembly to fuel system plumbing etc. did some searching online found these motors aren't fans of ngk plugs and of course ngkBR9HS 10 plugs are in it. question is more or less where would you guys start. I appreciate any help as I am not a parts changer by any means and don't wish to be, just looking for what some of you more experienced Johnson guys would start with. Thank you
. And 10-4 on the trim/idle correlation thank you.