50hp johnson no power

L

lowejohnson

Recruit
Joined
Mar 16, 2012
Messages
4
1983 johnson runs great on muffs,put it in the water has no power.will not pull itself onto trailer.I have rebuilt carbs,checked ignition,seems to have low spark on number two cylinder.installed new stator,coils,and power pack.no change,traced all the wiring. even tried second power pack,second pack will not shut off with key.am I just getting bad packs? in the water seems like you are puling a boat behind you.starts good,like I said on muffs runs and sounds great.checked all the grounds too.
 
fireman57

fireman57

Captain
Joined
Aug 24, 2004
Messages
3,811
Re: 50hp johnson no power

Use a timing light to check for spark when you are underway. Take a buddy along so he can drive. I bet you are losing spark under a load. What you describe is the engine running on one cylinder. Probably a coil. Clean the grounds well first.
 
E

ECHOx7

Recruit
Joined
Sep 25, 2012
Messages
3
Re: 50hp johnson no power

I have a 1982 johnson 50hp ... When i bought the thing used .... it was not running .. Put on the new starter, and she fired right up .. All was well, until we tested her out on the water, at full throttle ... After throttle back .. she did not want to run right again. .... long story short .. i had noticed when i originally purchased the boat, the spark advance linkage and attachment did not seem right .. grommet loose .... did not think to check that at the river ... lol ... Back home .. looking motor over .. noted the linkage off the grommet ... ( w/o proper engine timing .. she may run .. but not well .. ) ... there's a place to look .. check the timing linkage .. a little aircraft tie wire to secure linkage, and a re-check of the actual timing of the engine .. and such .. mine ran again (like a new one)

On another note .. after carbs cleanouts on the swamp on afternoon ... she ran well for a short time .. changed all fuel lines .. (ethanol does havoc to old fuel lines .. ) ... recleaned the carbs .. now .. she's one heck of a motor ..
 
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