78 Johnson 55 hp won't stay running

[Navajo]

I have gotten a 78 Johnson 55 hp that has been in storage for 15 years. Everything was winterized properly and fuel was drained back then. When I got it and put fuel in it, the engine fired right up. Took it out on the water and it would die after about 5 minutes of running full speed. I checked the carbs and have never seen anything so clean. After reading forums I changed the fitting on the fuel line where it hooks to the tank because as I pumped the bulb bubbles would come out there. This fixed it and it ran great while in gear. But then I had troubles keeping it idling or getting it started. I've since changed out all the fuel lines, fuel filter and pump. Still nothing. It actually is worse now because it will start after a lot of trying and then die after 5 seconds if I'm lucky.
I've taken the fitting off the gas tank and cleaned it as best I could with carb cleaner, but it didn't make a difference. I don't think it's a clogged vent because I have two tanks and either one has the same thing happening. One tank gets vacuum and if you remove the cap can hear the pressure, but the other one doesn't.

I'm lost. It actually is worse after replacing all the stuff. Any suggestions?

 

[1983 ercoa 21']

1 welcome aboard

2 have you tried putting some pre mix in a squirt bottle and squirted some in carbs to see if it starts? If it does pull fuel line off after pump and crank it with a extra line into a jug if you have a good flow of fuel remove carbs and check needles and seats. And use carb cleaner to clean out all offices.

3 if it does not start when squirting fuel in the carbs then test spark using a air gap of 7/16


4 report your findings.

 

[Navajo]

Thanks. I'll try that tomorrow. I was thinking of trying that because last time I got it started and it stalled I pulled the cap off the fuel pump and no gas came out. Sometimes it will spill out and sometimes it won't. I'll check it while cranking though tomorrow.

 

[Tim Frank]

Did you use an OEM fitting at the tank or an aftermarket one?

 

[Navajo]

I used an OEM.
Today I took the fuel line off at the carb and cranked the engine. Of course just to mess with me the engine started and ran until the bowls were empty. Had good flow out of the line. Hooked it back up and it started but then quickly died.

Next I took both carbs off, took off the bowls and just sprayed everything that I could get from there. Put it all back together and it started right up and ran as long as I wanted. I've now let it set for 20 minutes twice and went back out and it started fine and ran on idle.

I'll try it in the water tomorrow night, but I think it was just something in the carbs. They look like they were just rebuilt, but I'm sure I'll have to go through them thoroughly soon.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[1983 ercoa 21']

They will look new the fuel settled in the bottom where the jets and passages are and that's where the problems are.
did you remove the jets and use carb cleaner to blow out the passages?

 

[Navajo]

I did not remove the jets. I don't have the special tool to get them out. I used carb cleaner on everything and blew out the passages to the jets. It ran good in the driveway after that. then I waited 2 days and put it in the water this morning and it wouldn't start at all, of course.
I pulled it out, went home and tore the carbs apart again. Sprayed them out and put them back on. When I went back to the lake it started right up and idled. I drove around for 2 hours stopping and fishing here and there. For the most part it started and idled fine except twice I didn't think it was going to. The last time, it would start right up and idle, but as soon as I put it in gear and give it gas it would stall. After 5 or 6 times of that it finally took off and ran great back to the dock.and idled there for a while.

Guess I need to get the tool to remove the jets and do it again.

 

[Les Robb]

Just a thought, did you use the old tank that had been sitting for the 15 years with gas in it? You could be clogging the carbs with sediment from the bottom of the tank.

 

[Navajo]

I did use the old tanks, but they were cleaned out before storage. The whole boat was dried out of any gas beforehand. I think I fixed all the idling issues with cleaning the jets out. Still having trouble getting it started. If I shut it off and just restart within a minute it starts great. But if it sits for a 5-10 minutes it is flooded before I even crank it. It will start each time, but it sometimes takes a while and when it does I can smell gas really bad. I put new floats in and they look to be aligned correctly, but somehow it's getting gas when the motor is off.

 

[Tim Frank]

Did you change the float needle and seat?

 

[Navajo]

I did replace the needle and seat. It doesn't seem like the float would be an issue once the motor is turned off. But maybe.

 

[1983 ercoa 21']

You can simply check by taking carb cover off slightly tilt the motor up so fuel would run to the front and pump the bulb or run it on muffs then shut it off to see if fuel runs out.

 

[Navajo]

Well I guess the float was the issue. I replaced both of them and the needles again and it runs fine. I guess I must have gotten a bad one or screwed something up somehow. Took it out over the weekend and I was really happy how it was running for a couple hours, BUT then I tried to stop and the throttle stayed wide open. The shifter was a bit stiff to get back into neutral and once it did the throttle was still open. I killed it with the key and when I restarted the throttle was still full bore. After looking at it, I believe it the lever that goes under the flywheel. I disconnected the cables to the shifter and the throttle lever moves pretty easy, but the lever above it is very hard and even harder to get it to return back to the off position.
I guess I need to pull the flywheel and grease this thing up. Anything I should know or is it all pretty obvious what needs to be greased under there.

 

[Bosunsmate]

Do you mean the part that swivels? (The timing base)
They can get dirty on their base and the grease gums up with this dirt making them not retreat as far.

 

[1983 ercoa 21']

I have used wd 40 to spray on the base at the swivel and worked them back and forth to free them up before without removing the fly wheel

 

[Navajo]

That's exactly where I'm talking. When I got the boat that and the throttle lever were froze up. I did exactly what you're saying ercoa and it worked great for about a month now it's just the timing base not the throttle. I'll try the wd40 for now and see if it works again.

Thanks guys

 

[oldboat1]

You shouldn't be able to key start that motor either in gear or beyond high idle.

 

[Navajo]

It wasn't in gear. I was able to move the shifter to neutral. It just wouldn't go into neutral with the engine throttled so high. Once I shut it off it went to neutral. I don't know about the high idle because it started right up.
I've been working it with wd40 and it seems to have loosened up a lot. We'll see when I get it on the water.
Thanks for all the replies.

 

[1983 ercoa 21']

Even when you think you have it working keep at it the wd will break down the old dried up grease that's causing it to stick .

 

[oldboat1]

Sounds dangerous. You may need to replace a cable or cables.