Boy are we in trouble, Again!! Help please!

wa3ipb

Seaman
Joined
Jul 13, 2001
Messages
50
Here we go again! We turned the flywheel just enough to free up the spark advance and tighted it back down . Than we did a compression check and one cylinder was low. So we put in a new head gasket(old one was shot) and the compression came back up to match the other 3 cyl at 100#(Yea! so happy it wasn't piston ring problem causing it, Yea!). Took her to water and she started fine. Put her in gear and she shut down immediately plus we noticed turning the steering wheel was much more difficult (because of fulling with flywheel? maybe liquid wrench dried out steering assembly?) So after several tries she started and after about 300 yards she shut down from over-heating.AGAIN! We just put a new water-pump/impellar two weeks ago. Now hubby did start her quickly a few ok, several quick times without the hose connected. Dropped the gearcase again and new impellar was melted down AARHHH!! Did we learn an unfortunate lesson here(never start without water)? Called the parts guy up to see about another water-pump kit and he says it may be therm problem. Took apart therm cover to find nothing there. No therm. Our Clymer doesn't show specs for this 1977 Johnson as far as therm removal/replacement. Could it be it never had one?? I think this engine was made only that year. Also, we did another compression check while the gearcase is off and all cylinders dropped to 60#. Is this normal without the gearcase attached? Help! Again! Thank you guys.
 

wa3ipb

Seaman
Joined
Jul 13, 2001
Messages
50
Re: Boy are we in trouble, Again!! Help please!

Opps, forgot, it's a 1977, 85 HP Johnson.
 

Fouled Plug

Ensign
Joined
Jun 29, 2001
Messages
935
Re: Boy are we in trouble, Again!! Help please!

A dry impeller will self destruct in seconds. Even 3 seconds of running will fry one. They are designed to be lubricated by water, so NEVER run a motor without muffs or some oter source of water. As for the compression, I can't see what difference having the lower unit off would make. Hopefully you didn't fry your new headgasket, but it is a possibility. Good luck!
 

wa3ipb

Seaman
Joined
Jul 13, 2001
Messages
50
Re: Boy are we in trouble, Again!! Help please!

FoulPlay, Please don't even mention the head gaskets! All cylinders (with gearcase down) are sitting at 60# now. Not just the one with the gasket replaced. Oh I hope it's just this cheapie compression checker we are using! Any thoughts on why the steering stiffened up? I read some of the replies below to anothers' steering woes. Thanks so much for responding.<br />The wifey ( who's learning mucho about boat engines from this board!)
 

wa3ipb

Seaman
Joined
Jul 13, 2001
Messages
50
Re: Boy are we in trouble, Again!! Help please!

I meant Foul Plug!!!!! Not Foul Play
frown.gif
 

Fouled Plug

Ensign
Joined
Jun 29, 2001
Messages
935
Re: Boy are we in trouble, Again!! Help please!

Try another compression gauge if yours is suspect. If you get the same reading, try a squirt of oil in the cylinder and see if that boosts compression. That would indicate piston ring wear. Hopefully the overheat didn't damage anything! If all else fails, try testing again with the lower unit reattached and see what happens. I don't see what difference that would make, but what the heck!
smile.gif
 

12Footer

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
8,217
Re: Boy are we in trouble, Again!! Help please!

Dan, on the subject of your steering, you are correct in assuming it needs lubrication. Grease all fittings on the motor's hinge. If this doesn't help, remove the bolt where the steering rod attaches to the motor,and detach the rod. Turn the wheel. Is it still hard? If yes, the problem is in the cable or the helm (steering box) itself, or the steering tube (where the rod goes thru the base of the motor mount). The steering tube can rust-up faster than you can say "crab trap!Hard to port!!" <br />In order to free it up, you must remove the large nut on both sides of the tube, and work the steering rod out of it.<br />This can sometimes be very dificult,and may require a large rubber mallet and 3 or 4 cans of WD-40 or liquid wrench...<br /> Then,take a shotgun bore brush, and clean all the crud and rust out of the tube. It must be spotless. Then, grease it heavily,and re-insert the cleaned steering rod,and re-attach it to the motor.<br />I hope I didn't confuse you, as I think i just confused myself.<br /> Deep channels<br /> Sean
 

clanton

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jul 9, 2001
Messages
4,876
Re: Boy are we in trouble, Again!! Help please!

IF you have clymer # B736 look on page # 365 for thermostat and pressure relief valve, need all of these parts for correct engine temp.
 

Bluefish

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 14, 2001
Messages
125
Re: Boy are we in trouble, Again!! Help please!

You my want to retorque the heads you should do that anytime you overheat a outboard engine. Good Luck
 

wa3ipb

Seaman
Joined
Jul 13, 2001
Messages
50
Re: Boy are we in trouble, Again!! Help please!

Hi Clanton, We have that Clymer manual and were going by that page but.. but... the diagram doesn't show what out motor looks like. I'm trying this UBB code with a pic for the first time. Hope it works!
Jul18-01.jpg
<br /><br /><br />Click on highlight to open pic
smile.gif
 

wa3ipb

Seaman
Joined
Jul 13, 2001
Messages
50
Re: Boy are we in trouble, Again!! Help please!

Trying again.
Jul18-01.jpg
<br />Pic of our 1977, 85HP Johnson 85EL77S<br />Therm cover and housing.<br />Last try for pic.
 

dumb tom

Cadet
Joined
Jan 12, 2001
Messages
18
Re: Boy are we in trouble, Again!! Help please!

All outboards (that I know of) have a "pee" tube. Be sure to check that water is comming out every time you start the engine, whether on land with muffs or in the water. Without water as a coolant, you can quickly overheat, which will stall the engine. Good luck!
 

clanton

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jul 9, 2001
Messages
4,876
Re: Boy are we in trouble, Again!! Help please!

Sorry bout that. I thought 1985 85HP. Almost same 77 only has 1 thermostat, Your pic looks like you are missing some parts. I can get you the pns later if you cant find parts.
 
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