1995 Johnson 15hp

[tkers]

Hi, I have this 1995 15hp.. I never had issues until I broke the pull cord, and it all went downhill from there. It would start to run poorly, it would bog down and have to pull choke in and out to keep it running again. either way, it did sit in my shed for two years. Now it won't start. I'll list all the things I have looked into. Put and carb kit in, checked the fuel pump diaphragm, strong spark on both cylinders 7/16 on a tester, 90psi on top and 88 psi on the bottom, even pulled the flywheel and checked under there, the key is there. I cleaned the grounds, tried changing sparkplug wires from top to bottom, thinking maybe i swapped them not noticing i did? I'm not sure if the timing of the spark is adjustable. even with adding fuel directly into plugs, still not much happens, just a few puffs and that's it. Using a drill to turn over, my arm is getting sore. What should I look into next? Thanks

 

[ct1762@gmail.com]

Hi, I have this 1995 15hp.. I never had issues until I broke the pull cord, and it all went downhill from there. It would start to run poorly, it would bog down and have to pull choke in and out to keep it running again. either way, it did sit in my shed for two years. Now it won't start. I'll list all the things I have looked into. Put and carb kit in, checked the fuel pump diaphragm, strong spark on both cylinders 7/16 on a tester, 90psi on top and 88 psi on the bottom, even pulled the flywheel and checked under there, the key is there. I cleaned the grounds, tried changing sparkplug wires from top to bottom, thinking maybe i swapped them not noticing i did? I'm not sure if the timing of the spark is adjustable. even with adding fuel directly into plugs, still not much happens, just a few puffs and that's it. Using a drill to turn over, my arm is getting sore. What should I look into next? Thanks

if it doesnt start after 1/2 dozen pulls stop ! somethings wrong. you say spark plug wires changed... you must mean primary leads? because if those are swapped (blue goes on top, green bottom) it will do as described.

 

[tkers]

if it doesnt start after 1/2 dozen pulls stop ! somethings wrong. you say spark plug wires changed... you must mean primary leads? because if those are swapped (blue goes on top, green bottom) it will do as described.

Yes jus the primary spark plug wires. It uses to start in like three pulls.
Using a drill just cause I wrecked my shoulder and it's sore now. I know something is wrong

 

[saltchuckmatt]

If the plug wires are backwards usually it will backfire. The other expert told you to check the wires from the power pack. Blue is for the top coil green is for the bottom coil make sure that is correct.

Most likely it's fuel related because it sat. What carburetor rebuild kit did you buy? Was it OEM? I would go through the carburetor again you probably missed something.

 

[tkers]

If the plug wires are backwards usually it will backfire. The other expert told you to check the wires from the power pack. Blue is for the top coil green is for the bottom coil make sure that is correct.

Most likely it's fuel related because it sat. What carburetor rebuild kit did you buy? Was it OEM? I would go through the carburetor again you probably missed something.

The blue / brown is top, brown is bottom.
OEM carb kit, I have took it apart twice and everything is there where it should be. Regardless I would think this POS should at least sputter when I put gas in the cylinders.
Spark timing? Sparking late or too early etc?
Is that adjustable or what??

 

[flyingscott]

Check the flywheel key

 

[saltchuckmatt]

I stand by my statement. Timing is not the issue here.

 

[racerone]

These are wonderful motors and run sweet.------It should bark and roar with fuel put in the plug hole.-----So you have spark at the wrong time I think.-----Perhaps linkages for timer base are loose / broken.-----It can not be a simple timing adjustment.----Timing is set at factory and does not need to be fooled with by an owner.

 

[tkers]

These are wonderful motors and run sweet.------It should bark and roar with fuel put in the plug hole.-----So you have spark at the wrong time I think.-----Perhaps linkages for timer base are loose / broken.-----It can not be a simple timing adjustment.----Timing is set at factory and does not need to be fooled with by an owner.

Okay. I know, this motor ran wonderful for years. There is spark, solid spark.
I just don't understand what happened to it.

 

[tkers]

Check the flywheel key

It's there. I removed flywheel to check just that.

 

[tkers]

I stand by my statement. Timing is not the issue here.

Okay then what is? The motor should at least fire up when given a bit of fuel down the spark plug holes.

 

[OptsyEagle]

even with adding fuel directly into plugs, still not much happens, just a few puffs and that's it.

What do you mean by that? What does a few puffs mean? Is it running for a couple of revolutions and then dying or is absolutely no fuel being combusted at all? This is very important.

 

[ct1762@gmail.com]

only thing now is either using diesel fuel or watered down fuel. doesn't make sense if its got spark at the right time, adequate compression and fuel.

 

[tkers]

What do you mean by that? What does a few puffs mean? Is it running for a couple of revolutions and then dying or is absolutely no fuel being combusted at all? This is very important.

Puffs as in almost but nothing being combusted at all.
New spark plugs as per OEM. Both have spark.
And no diesel, or "watered down fuel"
Fresh gas straight into the cylinders and still absolutely nothing.
Other than spark timing? Not even know how I can test this.
Throwing ideas now, what if the spark is there but weak? Even if it can jump a gap, what if it's not a strong spark. I'm at a loss now...
Thanks guys for ideas I'll keep trying usually at night, after work.

 

[racerone]

I would say it is a timing issue.----Try another flywheel.----I could simply go to another motor here and try another flywheel.----Or mark your flywheel for TDC.----Use a timing light to see where it is firing !

 

[ct1762@gmail.com]

The blue / brown is top, brown is bottom.
OEM carb kit, I have took it apart twice and everything is there where it should be. Regardless I would think this POS should at least sputter when I put gas in the cylinders.
Spark timing? Sparking late or too early etc?
Is that adjustable or what??

i certainly apologize if it sounded like i was suggesting you'd put diesel or fuel with water in it on purpose! i just meant stupid stuff like that can happen without us realizing it. racer as usuall is correct very simple to see if its firing at the correct time by indexing the flywheel. all thats needed is some nail polish and a screwdriver to see each cyl at roughly TDC. any # that shows up briefly with a timing light other than the cyl its supposed to be means you have an issue with the pack, flywheel (inner timing magnet slipped) or timer itself.

 

[racerone]

These are QUALITY motors !!----So easy to trouble shoot if you understand these simple motors.

 

[tkers]

These are QUALITY motors !!----So easy to trouble shoot if you understand these simple motors.

I'm trying to understand as much as I can. Need a good troubleshooting for checking for timing. Thank you all for the advice and help. Still just sparky and no start.

 

[film495]

What color is the spark from the plugs? If good that motor might be singing the sad song of bad gas. You want to look at the plugs after it won't start also, and see if they are wet or dry. wet = flooding, dry = no gas. If no gas you might want to go back and look at the carb again.

Oh, usually there are a couple marks on the flywheel, and an index mark somewhere to use as a reference point. You can just spin the flywheel and use a dowl in the pug hole to figure out where TDC is on each side. On the upstroke, just before TDC, the marks on the flywheel should line up pretty close to some reference mark - a little vertical line, not unlike the ones on the flywheel, or a little upside down V. If it is out of time, you'd figure it out pretty quick, but how would the timing have changed? sometimes the flywheel key has to go a particular way up, and the slanted end down, just on some motors I've worked on. If you didn't flip the key the wrong way, or sheer the key, I'm not inclined to think your timing is off.

 

[tkers]

Thanks. I'll look into that.
On the carb, the kit came with three different #11 gaskets. The original carb only had one, I'm curious on why the kit has three and if all should be installed. If so which order??
Does anyone have any more info or diagrams on this carburetor?