Model #JW-17 need help please!

[csfworks]

I picked up a 61/62 Model JW-17 3hp seahorse in exchange for my .22 lr. The guy I picked it up from aid that it ran fine last time he ran it, but this was 40+ years ago and it has been in his basement since.

I started by adding a little oil to the cylinders to see if they would move and great news! They moved!

Checked for spark, and again seemingly great news. I got shocked on accident with wet fingers, (dumb) but at least I saw an arc in full daylight.

Took apart the carb to clean it and the gaskets were suprisingly still soft and pliable. I cleaned it well anyway. I didn't change the gaskets or the cork float (this might have been a mistake based on what I've read lately).

Put everything back together and tried to start it. I can get a little exhause smoke when I pull hard enough on the retract cord. It will even try really hard to start but it will not continue running for more than about a 2 or 3 seconds.

I popped off the flywheel to look at the stator and noticed that both egnition coils had very badly cracked insulation. Could this be the key to my problem?

I know nothing about outboards, this is my first and the only reason I have it, is to power my canoe with my 3 year old son on a small lake.

I know very little about 2 stroke motors so that isn;t a tremendous help either. I have been flooded wth information trying to di my own research though and it's driving me crazy that I can't get this seeming simple little thing to run.

Any help anyone can offer me would be greatly appreciated. And also if anyone knows where I can buy a good carb kit instead of doing it onepeice at a time that would also be awesome.


Thank you in advance.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Model #JW-17 need help please!

Cracked coils are not good. They could be arcing everywhere except the plugs. Check vintage outboards for old carb kits.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Model #JW-17 need help please!

All of them have cracked coils if they are original, and will need to be replaced. An update of the ignition system may be a good idea to be a reliable runner, including wires.

The impeller is likely dry rotted as well. It will need to be replaced, as will the gear oil. Change the fuel lines, as the originals will be cracked and not ethanol resistant.

Have you tested the compression?

 

[csfworks]

Re: Model #JW-17 need help please!

I haven't checked compression yet. I'm trying to track down a compression guage to borrow since my Fiancee isn't too happy with the idea of me spending $20 to $30 on something I might only use once.

The fuel line is copper so that is still ok. Flows well and I can hear the exhaust on the tank decompress when I open the drain **** on the fuel line to let fuel into the carb.

I'm working on the kit and the float now, I'll be ordering them right after I pay a few bills and see what I have left over. Thank you for the information there.

Funny story, I actually just went out and tried to start it It idled for a couple seconds and broke the cord on the pull start. in an attempt to reassemble it I also broke the retract spring. There's another $11 or so.

I really appreciate the information and anything more would be greatly appreciated.

 

[csfworks]

Re: Model #JW-17 need help please!

I found something else that might be a problem, but I'm not sure. The exhaust passage was full of crud. I cleaned it out, and am now waiting on word on new gaskets for the whole thing, but could this have been part of the problem?

 

[nwcove]

Re: Model #JW-17 need help please!

what exhaust passage was blocked? you really need to do a compression test before you spend any $$$! most auto parts stores will lend you one with a refundable deposit. if the compression checks out good, you need to do three basic things to have a nice little motor! 1. overhaul the ignition, coils, and wires at minimum. 2. PROPERLY clean and rekit the carb. 3. replace the impeller. oh...and 3.1....good idea to clean the tank out, and remove and clean the scintered metal filter thats in the tank.

 

[csfworks]

Re: Model #JW-17 need help please!

tried a compression test, and only had about 40 or 50 oneither cilynder cracked the head loose and realized the gasket was about as hard as cardboard. We'll ee what we have after I replace the head gasket. Just waiting on the ok from my old lady to start spending any money. What would you recommen to clean the gas tank out? and I didn't know there was a little metal filter. Have't dug into the tank at all yet. And I downloaded a brief service manual. Is this impeller everyone keeps talking about down in the gearcase? If so, would it be a good idea to rebuild the water pump while I have it all apart?

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Model #JW-17 need help please!

The impeller is the water pump. The actual metal housing and wear plate are almost always good, but inspect it. I sometimes need to replace the rubber grommets for the water line.

Dress the head, replace the gasket and torque to spec. Let us know if you need help with this.

 

[Crosbyman]

Re: Model #JW-17 need help please!

try this
3 HP Evinrude Johnson Litetwin Ducktwin Tune-Up 1952-1967 Carburetor Tune-Up Procedure


3 HP Evinrude Lightwin Ignition System Tune-Up 1952-1967

tell you better half this is money better spent than booz and cigs ... it is a hobby

you probably have a great little engine which needs a bit of pampering (that is a synonim for coils points, condensers, impeller, head gasket and patience)

cracked coils is good (motor is in original stae & not used much...but it could spell internal rusting and bad omen to worse things)

Feed oil to it, loosen up those rings with a light oil ..try kerosene, with the head off check water passages for crud and do...decrud the two small hole under the screw on the gas cap....essential you do that ...find the 2 holes and decrud with a paperclip !!! the are 180 degrees apart under the screw.

run it with Amsoil synthetic oil at 24/1 (less smoke and biodegradable)

should be good for your kids to use so tell the better half it will be cheaper than buying a new engine later on in life to take the kids fishing .

 

[csfworks]

Re: Model #JW-17 need help please!

I actually have both of those pages saved to my favorites on my computer already, along with about 100 others that's my problem hehe.
And While she does understand that it's money well spent she just called my from about 15 miles away on last monday because we needed a new battery for the truck. There was $116 I planned on dumping into the motor if necessary. All is well that ends well though. The good thing about having a job is as long as I keep doing what I'm supposed to they keep giving me more money.

May i ask what the purpose of those 2 small holes is? I cleaned them out, but I'm just curious what they are.

I'm not sure what you mean by "dress the heads". I noticed the gasket has been "resealed" several times with silicone, does this have anything to do with dressing them?

 

[nwcove]

Re: Model #JW-17 need help please!

what two small holes are speaking of? if the headgasket has silicone on it, it has been off, and put back on wrong! clean that mess up, and we will help with the head dressing and putting the head back on right. keep yer girl on track, putting around the lake with your lil one will make memories that will outlast you and her. jmo

 

[Crosbyman]

Re: Model #JW-17 need help please!

the two smalll holes are under the vent seal ...under the screw on the top of the fuel cap. when you release the "vent" screw on the tank's cap the two holes allow air to flow into the gas tank to balance out the suction created as gas flows down.. out to the carb.

If the holes are plugged with dirt unscrewing the vent screw will do nothing and the fuel tank will eventually vacum itself shut as atmospheric air pressure tries to "fill the vacum"

this will stop fuel flow to the carb and the engine will die out from lack of fuel.

testing with the fuel cap removed will prove this. The engine will start and not die on you.

 

[csfworks]

Re: Model #JW-17 need help please!

lol i feel stupid. It says ight on the motor to pen the air vent and I had no idea what it was talking about. Now i see... A lot of the symtoms I noticed are probably directly related to this.

Am I going to needto buy anything to dress the heads? I know nothing about this process.
I did notice the plug holes are off centeron the head as well, are they supposed to be on the right or the left when I reinstall them?

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: Model #JW-17 need help please!

Am I going to needto buy anything to dress the heads? I know nothing about this process.
I did notice the plug holes are off centeron the head as well, are they supposed to be on the right or the left when I reinstall them?

Very fine grit sand paper, and a piece of glass as a flat surface to place the sand paper on.
Dressing the head basically means you are truing up the surfaces. From time and overheats, the heads on these little engines will warp, and not evenly compress the head gasket. When you dress the head, you are removing material from the surface of the head till all the surfaces are level. If you've ever seen some one surface the head on an automotive engine, this is basically what they are doing.

I posted some pictures of dressing the head on my little 7.5 in posts #19 & 20 here;
http://forums.iboats.com/johnson-evinrude-outboards/1956-evinrude-fleetwin-freshen-up-552803.html

Not sure what you mean on the spark plugs. Can you post some pictures?
Does it look like the plug holes have been repaired?

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Model #JW-17 need help please!

Match up the gasket to the powerhead surface, then the head to the gasket so that all orifices are aligned.

This should help

 

[csfworks]

Re: Model #JW-17 need help please!

Excellent thank you for th help. Got the head realigned and all set at 90 and 93 top and bottom now. Funny thing is now I'm definately not getting spark. I have new Coils and a new impeller on order. Carb started flooding also so I have a new kit on the way after all. I'm hoping I don't have to dump all that money into replacing the whole ignition system, I think she'e getting tired of i already. I actually had to kick my ebay business back into order to get the parts I already bought!

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: Model #JW-17 need help please!

Excellent thank you for th help. Got the head realigned and all set at 90 and 93 top and bottom now. Funny thing is now I'm definately not getting spark. I have new Coils and a new impeller on order. Carb started flooding also so I have a new kit on the way after all. I'm hoping I don't have to dump all that money into replacing the whole ignition system, I think she'e getting tired of i already. I actually had to kick my ebay business back into order to get the parts I already bought!

Well...
Once you replace the cracked coils (which are the most expensive part of the ignition), you really never have to worry about them again. The design on the new coils are much improved. Everything else (points, condensers, wires) is relatively cheap, and shouldn't need replacement often at all. Just keep the points clean and properly gaped, and you shouldn't have any issues for a long time...