1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

[SparkieBoat]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

post #33

 

[S M McInto]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

post #33

I am going to go over this in depth tonight.

I was just messing with it some more and it just cranks and cranks...but if i shoot some carb cleaner into the carbs it soinds like it is trying to start.

 

[wired247]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

Alright....completely cleaned out the carbs again today. And i hought it could also be bad gas, so o filled up a portable 5 gallon with fresh gas and new oil 50 to 1
It started right up, idled, but was idling a little low from us messing with it, so i shut it off to adjust it, now it wont start at all, doeant even sound like its trying to start, just turns over and over.

What is your float setting?

 

[S M McInto]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

What is your float setting?

I dont know. How do you check the setting?

 

[wired247]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

The float height needs to be right. If you hold the carb upside down and look down at it you'll see the pivot point and the other side. The other side needs to sit slightly higher than the pivot side. Measure from the gasket surface to the top of the float. 13/16" should be about right. Too little and the carb bowls will flood and you'll slosh fuel into the emulsion tubes and it will do all the stuff youve described.

You may also want to watch the engine in the dark and see if and where where the spark is "leaking" Those CD packs put out a strong spark and it will overwhelm bad wires and crappy grounds. Make sure gound bolts are tight and sanded clean of rust.


You'll find that there the theory of how these things are supposed to work and the reality of how they actually work after 30+ years of corrosion, spliced together wiring and loose connections. Those plug in connectors are the worst especially the female ones. Also the spark plug wires. Oy.

 

[toddschubert]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

Don't worry about burt exhaust out leaking from lower cover. Keep mid section cleans so you can monitor it and if it gets noticeable worse in a short period then your looking at a power head gasket. Mine does it but there is now wat I'm going to risk causing other probs removing Ph there is no pressure there so performance is not affected

 

[daselbee]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

I asked...haven't seen an answer....does your primer bulb pump up firm and hold pressure until you attempt the start?

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

You might want to check the timing on #1 or #2 cylinder. Sometimes when an engine is cranked and cranked, the stress can crack the flywheel key and completely change the ignition timing. Before you pull the flywheel off to check it, use a timing light to verify the timing on either#1 or #2 cyls to the marks on the top of the flywheel. If the timing seems to be significantly off-then pull the flywheel off to visually check the key.

 

[S M McInto]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

I asked...haven't seen an answer....does your primer bulb pump up firm and hold pressure until you attempt the start?

Yes

 

[S M McInto]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

Had someone come out yesterday, he repaired a few connections to the coils, just sone old wires. Then used a rag in feont of the carbs...cranked it a few times and then it started right up. He just said the carbs must be so dirty thay putting thatbkind of pressure kind of forces everything through. Looks like the carb kits are going on after all, since today it wouldnt start again.

 

[daselbee]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

I thought you said you cleaned the carbs? Choking with a rag allows it to start?

Brings me back to the "no gas at idle" diagnosis.

Also, the reason I asked about the primer bulb: I was thinking you might have had the floats in upside down. This would flood the engine and the primer bulb would never get firm.

 

[S M McInto]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

Well after he got it started 2 days ago with the rag it ran really good and smooth, idled nicely. Shut it off, started right back up. We actually took the boat out yesterday, and it started up nice in the water, but you could tell it didnt really want to idle very well. We rode it for aboit an hour and it was running nicely at all speeds, then we get back near the dock and drop it to idle and it dies and wont start. I had to get towed

He just said that anytime he has to resort to using a rag to start it, the carbs are really clogged. I told him i cleaned them out already, spraying out all the jets and fuel pipes, he said that there are so many small holes in a carb that it will probably need to be soaked if it didnt work after cleaning what i could.

I ordered the rebuild kits though, so i will have those in a week or so.

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

When the engine quit running, did you check for spark on all plugs? The idle should be set to 650-750 rpm's. Set when floating normally in the lake, in forward gear.

 

[daselbee]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

I know you don't want to hear this, but I think you are barking up the wrong tree with getting the kits.
You will see that it is basically just gaskets and a needle/seat. And again, I am going on the fact that you said you have the carbs thoroughly cleaned. If so, the kits will not be the magic pill that fixes this.

Try this: Pump primer bulb til firm. Turn the red lever on the primer solenoid to manual position. Gently squeeze fully your primer bulb (which should now be soft) two to three more times. Return the red lever to normal run position. Try start (no need to press key in).

What you have done is manually pumped extra gas into the intake area to enrichen the motor. If it runs on that gas, and then stalls, you are "out of gas" at idle.

 

[JimInAlabama]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

S M, I have a '90 100 hp XP and have low idle issues as well. One thing I finally learned the hard way was that this engine has exhaust relief ports, two round holes on the back of the midsection, and if they're under water it creates just enough back pressure to keep it from idling smooth. My little bass boat sits low to the water, so when I'm idling I have to tilt the motor just a bit to where those ports are above water line, then it idles much better.

 

[archcycle]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

S M McInto you still haven't addressed the carburetor float issue that lots of people have been pointing at.

Disassemble the carb so that you have the float exposed, turn it upside down, and take a picture of where the float rests when the carb is upside down. Post it here.

 

[S M McInto]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

Alright, sorry I haven't replied in a few days, my kids finally gave me their strep throat.

Anyways, I completely dis-assembled both carbs and bought the Berrymans chem-dip and soaked them both overnight. Got the re-build kits and put them all back together. So new floats, gaskets, float seat, o-rings,...etc. Put them back on, and same problem, just cranks and crank and cranks, doesn't even try to start what so ever.

 

[S M McInto]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

I know you don't want to hear this, but I think you are barking up the wrong tree with getting the kits.
You will see that it is basically just gaskets and a needle/seat. And again, I am going on the fact that you said you have the carbs thoroughly cleaned. If so, the kits will not be the magic pill that fixes this.

Try this: Pump primer bulb til firm. Turn the red lever on the primer solenoid to manual position. Gently squeeze fully your primer bulb (which should now be soft) two to three more times. Return the red lever to normal run position. Try start (no need to press key in).

What you have done is manually pumped extra gas into the intake area to enrichen the motor. If it runs on that gas, and then stalls, you are "out of gas" at idle.

I tried this with the primer solenoid, no go, same issue, just crank and crank and crank.

 

[S M McInto]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

S M McInto you still haven't addressed the carburetor float issue that lots of people have been pointing at.

Disassemble the carb so that you have the float exposed, turn it upside down, and take a picture of where the float rests when the carb is upside down. Post it here.

Well now it has new floats, float pin, needle, and needle seat so it should be perfect now

 

[S M McInto]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

When the engine quit running, did you check for spark on all plugs? The idle should be set to 650-750 rpm's. Set when floating normally in the lake, in forward gear.

Yeah, the guy that came and looked at it did spark tests, compression tests,...etc All good