rpm troubles Johnson 5.5 HP (1963)

Knientje

Cadet
Joined
Sep 5, 2003
Messages
17
Recently I had my outboard engine revised, there's new high speed needle in the carb. When I went for a test ride with my boat, everything went fine, full rpm in reverse and forward, however, if I let it idle in neutral and I decide to go further again and I put it in forward, it refuses to make the usual rpm at full throttle and runs very slowly. This also happens when I have it in forward at slow speed for a few minutes, when I give full throttle. nothing happens, it keeps running slow. Sometimes it "gets over" it and then I hear a few little bangs in the engine, like the clutch is getting grip and then the engine runs fine again. But I don't know how a reversing gear works, so I don't know if this works with clutch plates (like in a car). So I don't know, if this can be the cause that it sometimes doesn't want to give full rpm at full throttle. It runs fine in neutral and in reverse. Only the forward gear is giving me troubles sometimes.<br />And if I leave the engine alone for a day and I start it the next day, everything goes fine again.<br />Who is familiar with this kind of troubles? :confused:
 

Chinewalker

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Aug 19, 2001
Messages
8,902
Re: rpm troubles Johnson 5.5 HP (1963)

Hi Wabbit,<br /> The clutch is a positive engagement deal - you're either in gear or you're not. If it slips, you'll know it as it'll make a violent "Ka-Chunk" sound and the whole transom will shake!<br /> I suspect you're issue is actually one of two things. Either you're running the carb too lean (richen up the high speed needle a little bit) or you're ignition is dropping a cylinder. An easy way to test the ignition hypothesis is to pull off one of the plug wires while it's exhibiting the problem. If the motor stalls entirely, then you've removed the one it was running on. If there's no change then you've removed the one that was dead. Possible causes include a fouled plug, cracked coil (not uncommon with a motor of this vintage), dirty points or weak condenser.<br />- Scott
 

Knientje

Cadet
Joined
Sep 5, 2003
Messages
17
Re: rpm troubles Johnson 5.5 HP (1963)

I think the ignition is fine, because the mechanic said he put in a new "bobine (the thing that let the igniton alternate) I don't know the english word for it" and I suppose he replaced the coils and the contact points, too. And I doubt if it runs on only one cylinder, because I don't have rpm troubles when it's in reverse or neutral, just in forward after idling or after running at slow speed. I suppose if it runs on one cylinder, I will have that problem in all gear positions.<br />The clutch doesn't make loud noises when shifting, and it certainly doesn't make the engine shake.<br />I already tried playing with the high speed needle, it starts to run a little bit faster then, but not at the rpm it should run<br />(And will you hold my hand when I remove the spark plug cable? It will be shocking lol)
 

R.Johnson

Rear Admiral
Joined
Sep 24, 2003
Messages
4,446
Re: rpm troubles Johnson 5.5 HP (1963)

With the hood off the engine, and engine not running. Shift into forward, and advance the throttle while watching the magneto plate turn. Is it turning to full advance, or is it catching on something?
 
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