Hi folks ? I have just become the owner of a 14? Wahoo (imitation of Boston whaler), with a 1989 25 hp Johnson motor. I?m thrilled to finally have a boat, but as a complete newbie, I know I have a lot to learn. I have read through the FAQ section and have used the search function, and I have found a lot of information. But I have several more questions that I haven?t found. Chances are good that this is the first of several posts with my newbie questions.
The first several times we took the boat out, it ran fine. When the tank was about half full I added more gas, mixed with stabilizer and TC-W3 outboard oil, at a 50:1 ratio. After adding the gas, the engine started acting odd: at WOT it would run very smoothly, then suddenly the engine would start screaming, but the boat slowed down. I immediately cut back the throttle and it stopped screaming, but the engine sped up and slowed down over and over (throttle was constant at about ? open). But whenever the engine sped up the boat slowed down. I would have thought that the prop was slipping on the shaft, except that it seemed odd that it happened shortly after I added fresh gas, and I hadn?t hit any obstructions that might cause the prop to shear off its shaft. Any ideas on what?s causing this?
Another question: how do I determine how many RPMs the engine is turning at? The boat is not equipped with a tachometer. And finally, how do I determine the ?ideal? RPM range for WOT? I don?t have an owners manual for the engine, and I haven?t found one on line.
Thanks in advance for your assistance.
The first several times we took the boat out, it ran fine. When the tank was about half full I added more gas, mixed with stabilizer and TC-W3 outboard oil, at a 50:1 ratio. After adding the gas, the engine started acting odd: at WOT it would run very smoothly, then suddenly the engine would start screaming, but the boat slowed down. I immediately cut back the throttle and it stopped screaming, but the engine sped up and slowed down over and over (throttle was constant at about ? open). But whenever the engine sped up the boat slowed down. I would have thought that the prop was slipping on the shaft, except that it seemed odd that it happened shortly after I added fresh gas, and I hadn?t hit any obstructions that might cause the prop to shear off its shaft. Any ideas on what?s causing this?
Another question: how do I determine how many RPMs the engine is turning at? The boat is not equipped with a tachometer. And finally, how do I determine the ?ideal? RPM range for WOT? I don?t have an owners manual for the engine, and I haven?t found one on line.
Thanks in advance for your assistance.
