1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

[emdsapmgr]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

What color is the oil leaking from around the prop? If it looks somewhat clear(could also be caramel colored or blue/green) then it could be oil from the lower unit gearbox. You'd probably want to check the fluid level and color in the gearbox. Could be a sign of a problem. If it's also black, oily and tarry-it's just unburned fuel residue coming down the midsection-pretty normal.

 

[bktheking]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

Have the powerpacks ever been replaced or are the original? Also - check the ground for the powerpacks to make sure the contact surface is clean. If it runs fine then doesn't after heating up sounds like failing ignition components to me. You could try heating up the powerpacks with a hair dryer and then fire it up on muffs to see if you've lost spark on one bank.

 

[S M McInto]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

What color is the oil leaking from around the prop? If it looks somewhat clear(could also be caramel colored or blue/green) then it could be oil from the lower unit gearbox. You'd probably want to check the fluid level and color in the gearbox. Could be a sign of a problem. If it's also black, oily and tarry-it's just unburned fuel residue coming down the midsection-pretty normal.

The oil coming out of the bottom is the black tarry stuff. The oil coming out of the top looked like the gas oil mix.

 

[S M McInto]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

Have the powerpacks ever been replaced or are the original? Also - check the ground for the powerpacks to make sure the contact surface is clean. If it runs fine then doesn't after heating up sounds like failing ignition components to me. You could try heating up the powerpacks with a hair dryer and then fire it up on muffs to see if you've lost spark on one bank.

I dont know for sure when they were changed but they look fairly new as compared to the rest of the engine. I am hoping the two new coils with the new spark plugs will solve the ignition problems. I guess i will find out friday when they arrive.

 

[bktheking]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

Might might not, at least you'll have new coils!

 

[daselbee]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

Got alot of issues that are being discussed here....
But to address the idling/stalling issue, I have to ask...how WELL did you "clean" the carbs?

The reason I say this is that some guys slosh gas thru them, wipe their a**es and call them clean.

It sounds like you have missed a very critical area for cleaning, which will cause a lean idle mixture, and result in the engine stalling, hard to start in the water, and upon acceleration, die out.

Sound like your symptoms?

You must absolutely clean the insides of those little brass tubes that stick down into the float bowl. On yours, (I think) there is a large tube with a very small one inside it. The small one is the tube that supplies gas to the idle circuit. I think those tubes might be clogged, or partially blocked. Of course, the fixed idle jets, and all the idle passages must be clean too.

I use a long welding tip cleaning file to get in there to clean them. Don't "file" them, just get that wire in there with some solvent and make sure they are free and clear.

 

[S M McInto]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

Got alot of issues that are being discussed here....
But to address the idling/stalling issue, I have to ask...how WELL did you "clean" the carbs?

The reason I say this is that some guys slosh gas thru them, wipe their a**es and call them clean.

It sounds like you have missed a very critical area for cleaning, which will cause a lean idle mixture, and result in the engine stalling, hard to start in the water, and upon acceleration, die out.

Sound like your symptoms?

You must absolutely clean the insides of those little brass tubes that stick down into the float bowl. On yours, (I think) there is a large tube with a very small one inside it. The small one is the tube that supplies gas to the idle circuit. I think those tubes might be clogged, or partially blocked. Of course, the fixed idle jets, and all the idle passages must be clean too.

I use a long welding tip cleaning file to get in there to clean them. Don't "file" them, just get that wire in there with some solvent and make sure they are free and clear.

I took them completely apart (one at a time) and used carb intake spray to spray everywhere all over them, and also took out all the jets (which were almost completely closed up) and cleaned them out nicely, and then blew some spray down the brass tubes to the point that I could consistently see the spray coming out through the other side.

I haven't really been able to judge if it has worked or not since I can't even really get it started now, but on Friday when I put the two new coils on it, I will try it out. If it doesn't seem to be good enough I will just go with the re-build kits and replace all the parts in the carbs.

 

[daselbee]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

Well.....hmmmm....

So, you are sure you have cleared the SMALL inside brass tube?

You do have the larger tube with holes in the sides, with a smaller tube inside that sits off to one side of the bigger tube?
In other words, it is not dead center with the bigger tube.

If you got them clean, well....hmmmm.....still thinking.

EDIT: If the gaskets were in good shape, you can save a bunch of money by NOT getting kits.
These carbs should be rebuilt many times before you need kits. My opinion only.

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

i have cleaned out many carbs without buying kits...

 

[bktheking]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

Likewise, but some just benefit from a kit, guess it all depends how long the carbs have been sitting in crappy gas, if there is a fuel filter, many variables. I didn't touch the carbs on my v-4 for the 3 years I owned it. The inline 6 that I now have was owned and run by a gent right up until I got it, I was told it was "good to go". I put 3 carb kits in it right away, I pulled the screens and they were plugged full of sand. My rule- if you don't know what's been done or the history of the carb maintenance replace the part with a kit, then you'll know. I knew the v4 was maintained because the owner was a personal friend.

 

[S M McInto]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

Well.....hmmmm....

So, you are sure you have cleared the SMALL inside brass tube?

You do have the larger tube with holes in the sides, with a smaller tube inside that sits off to one side of the bigger tube?
In other words, it is not dead center with the bigger tube.

If you got them clean, well....hmmmm.....still thinking.

EDIT: If the gaskets were in good shape, you can save a bunch of money by NOT getting kits.
These carbs should be rebuilt many times before you need kits. My opinion only.

Well I pretty much connected the little spray straw thingy on the carb spray to the little pipe, pretty much the same size, and shot it through. All the gaskets looked good, pretty much no wear on them at all.

 

[S M McInto]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

Ooook.....put the new coils on, put on the new fuel/water filter....

SAME problem. I cant even really get it started. When I do get it started i have to give it a lot of gas and keep priming it. It smokes A LOT . And it seems to sputter and shoot out clouds of smoke and then eventually boggs down and cuts out. I am completely stumped now. Could it be bad fuel? Or xould it still just be a carb problem. Sometimes when starting it just cranks and cranks and doesnt start.

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

follow the instructions in my sig below..a cheap dva adapter and free troubleshooting download links are there in blue.

 

[wired247]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

Check your floats. When turned over the the edge of the float should be just shy of 7/16" above the gasket surface. If the float is flat like is often recommended you will likely flood the carb and push fuel through the emulsion tube and all the symptoms you are describing will occur.

Also change your thermostats. If theyre old they'll stick and you'll never get to operating temperature and it will run like crap at anything less than WOT.

Get it started and pull off a plug wire. You should have sparks shooting out the plug boot to the nearest ground. If not you have problems. Check the carbs first.

 

[S M McInto]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

Check your floats. When turned over the the edge of the float should be just shy of 7/16" above the gasket surface. If the float is flat like is often recommended you will likely flood the carb and push fuel through the emulsion tube and all the symptoms you are describing will occur.

Also change your thermostats. If theyre old they'll stick and you'll never get to operating temperature and it will run like crap at anything less than WOT.

Get it started and pull off a plug wire. You should have sparks shooting out the plug boot to the nearest ground. If not you have problems. Check the carbs first.

Where are the thermostats??

 

[daselbee]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

You don't want to get into the thermos....not the cause of your problem.

You are not getting gas thru the carb at idle throttle setting.
You can make it run with extra primer action, but the minute you stop priming, it quits. Right?

No fuel at idle throttle setting. You have missed a clog somewhere in the idle circuit of the carbs.

Trailer it up here. Fix you right up, quick.

 

[daselbee]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

I have a question...

Does your primer bulb get firm when pumped just before starting? It should firm up, and stay firm.
If it doesn't then you have a fuel leak somewhere, or the bulb has a bad check valve in it.

 

[steve6]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

Tested compression yesterday, 110 on all 4. Also gapped the spark plugs correctly. I saw a loose wire on two of the coils, so i just ordred two new coils and a new fuel water seperater filter. It is leaking an oil from underneath the uppr section...see picture... any ideas

this is the carbs leaking out their fuel when you tilt the engine, mine does it, I try to lower the motor as soon as I get home. The fuel is known to leak out, but the gasket is supposed to keep it in the fuel area and drain it back into the engine when you tilt the motor back down. Id check your gaskets around the carb, maybe change the thick cork one, check the hoses for cracks.

 

[archcycle]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

this is the carbs leaking out their fuel when you tilt the engine, mine does it, I try to lower the motor as soon as I get home. The fuel is known to leak out, but the gasket is supposed to keep it in the fuel area and drain it back into the engine when you tilt the motor back down. Id check your gaskets around the carb, maybe change the thick cork one, check the hoses for cracks.

That's not fuel from the carbs. Leaks from the carbs will be clean unburned blue-green gas/oil mix. This leak is sooty and burned.

 

[S M McInto]

Re: 1982 Johnson 115hp V4 Starting issues

I have a question...

Does your primer bulb get firm when pumped just before starting? It should firm up, and stay firm.
If it doesn't then you have a fuel leak somewhere, or the bulb has a bad check valve in it.

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.