1978 35HP Johnson Searhorse / No Start

[matthisjr]

Good evening.

In 2009 we had pulled out my dads boat with the subject motor on it that had been in dry storage for 6 years.

We wanted to try and get it running. We put a good battery on it, put some good fuel and new fuel line with bulb on it , hooked the water hose to it and bam it started up right off the bat.

We let the boat run for about 15 to 20 minutes and verified that it was pumping water and would rev and go into and out of gear properly. We killed it and started it a few times just to make sure it would restart.

We then cleaned the boat up and loaded it with some fishing gear. Drove to a near by lake and put it in the water. The boat would not hit a lick. It turns over well and is firing but wont hit a lick. We went ahead and fished around the launch trying to start it hear and there but nothing. We loaded the boat back up and it went back into storage.

Its 2012 and Ive been fishing hot and heavy but at the mercy of friends with boats. I need to get this motor up and running.

Where do you suggest starting with what I have told you guys? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: 1978 35HP Johnson Searhorse / No Start

Assuming that the engine has compression and spark...............

Sitting for six (6) years..... The carburetor on that engine is fouled, gummed, clogged. Remove, clean, and rebuild it using a complete carburetor kit (about $20). Be sure to manually clean the brass high speed jet that is located in the bottom center portion of the float chamber with a piece of single strand steel wire... cleaning solvent just doesn't do a proper job of cleaning that jet. Fuel must flow thru that jet properly before it can gain access to any other fuel passageway.

 

[Boogieman8]

Re: 1978 35HP Johnson Searhorse / No Start

I to have a 35 hp Johnson and it has been sitting for 1 and 1/2 years. The mechanic said it has 50 and 60 compression in the cylinders and that who ever ran the motor last did so with straight gas. He said the motor was blown and parts are hard to find. I would like to rebuild this motor. Do you know where I can get the parts and how I can tell if the cylinders are actually shot? Thanks