'72 Johnson 50 HP...carb cleaning.

Hoyt79

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Can I just clean the carb without rebuilding it? Also, where can I get seafoam at locally?
 

dew2

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Re: Carb Cleaning

Re: Carb Cleaning

You can, but a kit should be installed at some point,especially if you know nothing about the motor (just got it) or its been a while.Seafoam?? I dont believe in additives your cleaning is so much better than relying on some thing that may work.I can point ya to a local seller if I knew you lived close to me.
 

Hoyt79

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Re: Carb Cleaning

Re: Carb Cleaning

You can, but a kit should be installed at some point,especially if you know nothing about the motor (just got it) or its been a while.Seafoam?? I dont believe in additives your cleaning is so much better than relying on some thing that may work.I can point ya to a local seller if I knew you lived close to me.

would some of those little pipe cleaners you get at the craft store work on cleaning the little openings in the carb?
 

tx1961whaler

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Re: Carb Cleaning

Re: Carb Cleaning

No. A pipe cleaner will cause many more problems than it will solve. Spray out the passages with carb cleaner followed up by compressed air. Use a plain old copper wire to run through the jets.
 

Hoyt79

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Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

Alright here we go...time to turn this into a full blown engine problem thread. '72 Johnson 50 HP (50ESL72C) Problem is, it will only run in full choke for about a min or so and then quit, I can restart and it will do the same thing all day long. I then decided to go and check all the fuel hoses and a few didn't have hose clamps so I used zip ties for a quick fix. That made the motor want to run for a short couple seconds then quit. I then went to the fuel filter and it has what looks like an ate up cork gasket behind the screen...how tight is the screw in the middle supposed to be? I think my problem may lie in the fuel filter when I squeeze the bulb fuel with skeet out around the filter, but I tighten all the screws I can see up and still just a little fuel drip but now motor does not want to start and run at all now. New lines and fuel filter?
 

tx1961whaler

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Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

The gasket needs to be replaced. PN 0312679. All of that broken down cork may be in the carb, since the gasket is on the other side of the screen. The center screw only needs to be tightened enough so that it doesn't leak when the primer bulb is pumped.
 

Hoyt79

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Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

The gasket needs to be replaced. PN 0312679. All of that broken down cork may be in the carb, since the gasket is on the other side of the screen. The center screw only needs to be tightened enough so that it doesn't leak when the primer bulb is pumped.

Ok, I will order the gasket. What about all the fuel lines and such coming out of filter and carb, can I get those all replaced from say O'Reily with the little hose clamps too?

Hmmm...just saw the fuel pump repair kit...for $25 I think I am going to order that.
 

tx1961whaler

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Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

O'Reilly will do. I have replaced all of the hoses on my old motors fairly recently since they were coming apart from the inside and clogging up the carb.
 

gettin_wet

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Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

so you can get most parts from o'reilly? and regular carb cleaner works? my motor is a 72' 85 johnson so i am doin alot of preventive maintenance before i try to start it...
 

tx1961whaler

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Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

The spray carb cleaner works well for cleaning a disassembled carb. It doesn't do anything at all by spraying it in the throat of a running motor, except clean all the lubricant off of the rod and crank bearings, possibly causing them to fail.
 

Hoyt79

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Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

The spray carb cleaner works well for cleaning a disassembled carb. It doesn't do anything at all by spraying it in the throat of a running motor, except clean all the lubricant off of the rod and crank bearings, possibly causing them to fail.

I think this will be my plan of action: Replace my fuel lines, replace the cork gasket inside the fuel filter, start the motor and use seafoam into the carb as directed...if the motor doesn't have any reaction to this then I will remove carb and see what it looks like inside and either clean it or rebuild it accordingly.
 

captain stick

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Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

Just to answer your question on where to get seafoam, I get it at Oreilly's. Ive used it in cars, boats, mowers, 4 wheelers, and other engines and have had great results.
 

Hoyt79

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Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

I am a pretty handy guy...but as always before I tackle something I have never done, I am a little worried about taking this carb off. Really the only thing I am worried about are the linkages and putting it all back in the same place. Any advice would be much appreciated on this...

Also...where are some good web sites to get parts from?
 

dew2

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tx1961whaler

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Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

^^^^
What he said. Take as many pictures as you can of the linkages and hoses before you take it apart.
A manual is also a really good resource to have. The OEM one is the best, but the 3rd party ones will get you on your way.
Seafoam will not help a clogged up carb. It may help to keep one clean and to stabilize the fuel, but that's about it.
 

ronsealdeath

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Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

Dont worry, I am only basically trained in auto mecahnics and managed carb rebuild and fuel pump rebuild fine. 2 stroke carbs are actually very simple devices when you open them up. Just take it all off in order, line everything up and even label them. Taking photos is also important.
I used a piece of wire and carb spray to clean my carbs and it worked great.
If your motor is old like mine I reckon you can't go wrong with a full carb rebuild with the kit, fuel pump rebuild with kit, new fuel lines and hose clamps on all connections. Its not expensive and why risk having them fail in the water.
The connections on the carbs are easy to do also, just invest in a workshop manual and follow the link and synch procedure to the letter. Its not difficult but like everything just needs you to be thorough.
Its also a good way to learn all this stuff in case you need to know how to put something back if it falls off in the middle of the ocean, as I have had to do a couple of times!
Cheers
Al
 

Hoyt79

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Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

Wow, just got back from church and got the carb off in about 20 minutes! Now to figure out how to break it down and get it cleaned...when you guys talk about a piece of wire, are you talking about a rigid piece or a flemsy fibrous piece of wire? And oh by the way, the cork gasket that is inside the fuel pump was completely deteroriated and has no spokes/designs in the center it is basically just an ate up cork circle.
 

Hoyt79

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Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

Oh wow! I took the bowls off and had a look see....and this is what I found!
 

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tx1961whaler

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Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

Yuk!
I have seen much worse. You'll have to really clean that one up. I use stranded copper speaker wire to run through the jets so I don't bugger them up.
 

Hoyt79

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Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

Re: '72 Johnson 50 HP...need help!

Yuk!
I have seen much worse. You'll have to really clean that one up. I use stranded copper speaker wire to run through the jets so I don't bugger them up.

I know my high speed jets are located on the carb bowl drain plug, but where are my idle speed jets? Do I remove the small brass cylinder that extends into the venturi of the carb or just spray and blow in it? What about the idle adjustment screws, found out thiese are needles when you unscrew them all the way out...what do I do with these to clean?
 
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