2.3 won't run- the story so far.....

[sundownerspares]

I recently came upon a 2.3 hp 1996 Johnson that was advertised as good condition but difficult to start ( which realy meant "won't start" !)
I took a look at the engine and it was in good condition visually, hadn't seized and had a spark so i thought it was worth a punt as these are very basic and not much can go wrong. After parting with some cash ( but not a lot) I took it home and sure enough it wouldn't run. It had a healthy spark and fresh fuel in the tank, so a carb strip / clean & reassemble was carried out but still no luck. I decided to pull the head off and take a look inside. The head was warped and water from the cooling jacket had leaked into the cylinder. Luckily it was easily rectified by lapping the head flat and cleaning the light corrosion from the water damage. After putting it back together I was confident it would run....... Wrong!
After more head scratching I pulled off the recoil starter and magneto flywheel.
The flywheel key was found sheared and I suspect the flywheel had moved on the shaft & was out of sync with top dead center, making it fire at the wrong time.
I guess it may have had water in the cylinder and when it was pulled over this could have locked the piston with a hydraulic lock and then the key sheared???
Anyway, I'm now waiting on parts, let's see if it runs after this is fixed!
I'll update this feed when I've got it back together......

 

[Whoopbass]

Re: 2.3 won't run- the story so far.....

Nice detective work.
Threads like this are good for the archives so be sure and update it.

 

[nwcove]

Re: 2.3 won't run- the story so far.....

......also post compression numbers after reasembly!

 

[sundownerspares]

Re: 2.3 won't run- the story so far.....

Right, the puzzle continues..... After a few weeks away and with new parts in hand the engine has been reassembled. It started fine but after a few minutes it stoped suddenly, very suddenly! I tried to pull it over but it felt wrong. The drive key had sheared again on the magneto flywheel. So it was stripped again. The head is flat and the top of the cylinder was flat also. Ok more digging to do.
I've found the piston ring seized in it's grove so I'm wondering if combustion pressure has got past the ring and caused it to stop ?????
Now the piston is soaking in penetrating oil as the ring is solid in the grove.
Once the ring is either free or broken ;-) I'll order a new drive key / ring and continue the saga!

 

[sundownerspares]

Re: 2.3 won't run- the story so far.....

The pain continues:
Does anyone have or can get me a new or good used piston (part number 0114822) ???????? I can get a ring but cant find a piston.

The piston ring is solid in the grove and no mater how much it is heated, soaked in oil it will not shift!!! :facepalm:

Ian

 

[sundownerspares]

Re: 2.3 won't run- the story so far.....

The piston ring eventually came out in six bits! So I've got the new ring and key and it's now reassembled and is running.....but won't idle at all and only runs at 1/3 throttle upwards with the choke on. I assume i've got an air leak somewhere and by putting the choke on I'm making the lean mixture ritch ( ive replaced the o ring where the carb' joins the crank case but it made no difference) or it is another carb' problem unless anyone else has got any ideas????

I have had a thought on why it was stopping suddenly prior to this, I wonder if it was partially seizing when it got hot as the piston ring was solid in its grove and couldn't cope with the expansion of the piston as it got hot ??????
The saga continues !

 

[hidef]

Re: 2.3 won't run- the story so far.....

I would suspect an air leak also. When you cleaned the carb did you use a rebuild kit? You might have a bad gasket or a plug orifice. You need to pop all off the welch plugs and clean it thoroughly.

 

[sundownerspares]

Re: 2.3 won't run- the story so far.....

OK stupid question, which way up do the crankshaft seals go in a BJ2REDE, the parts catalog shows them both going in with the open ends towards the crankshaft, but later engine parts books show then both going open side down, i.e the closed side on the top seal is on the outside and the lower seal has the closed side towards the crank????? I just can't remember how it came apart and I think this may be the cause of my engine not idling without choke (its sucking air in through one of the seals)
Thanks

 

[sundownerspares]

Bump. !