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Author Topic:   1989 Johnson 200 Idle

Quogue posted 06-18-2012 06:00 PM ET (US)
Hi fellow Whalers--I am having troubles with the idle on my [1989] Johnson 200-HP outboard engine. The engine was running great when I put her to bed with fogging oil like I always do. Started her up yesterday, and, after the fog oil burnt away, she was not idling properly. I need to run at 2,000-RPM to keep her going, then she jumps to 3,500 to [over] 4,500-RPM on her own. She will only idle for five to ten seconds at 800-RPM before dying. I am not a mechanic, but [the cause of the problem] sounds like a cylinder or two is intermittent.
I pumped a half-gallon of gas out of the primer bulb and found no water. I replaced the fuel-water seperator filter and the six spark plugs to no avail. I sprayed some carburetor cleaner into the carburetors while she was running, but that did not help. Also soaked the engine in engine tuner for an hour, and that did not help. I suspect [the cause of the problem is in the] carburetors, but not sure how to proceed. I have taken off a 40-HP engine carburetor and cleaned it, but this is too much--six carburetor. Can I do something on the engine? The large brass screws at the front bottom of the carburetors (I assume) would drain the fuel from each carburetor. Should I do this? Anything else that a Sunday mechanic (myself) can do without getting in over my head? Local mechanics are too busy and can't look until next week, and my brother is on vacation this week--bummer for him. Revenge 22 is getting her [revenge].
The worst case: I will tell my brother to have some beers at the mooring and enjoy elsewhere the [money] he is saving in gas Thanks for any ideas.
jimh posted 06-18-2012 08:07 PM ET (US)
Have you checked for spark on all cylinders using an in-line spark tester?
Quogue posted 06-19-2012 06:59 AM ET (US)
I did not. All the used spark plugs looked the same, however. I should [have] checked that. I will ask my brother to do so, as I am not near the boat for a few days, and I will post results. Much apprciated. I assume if there is no spark that changing the coil is the next step? Thanks.
jimh posted 06-19-2012 08:20 AM ET (US)
Since the problem occurred after the winter lay-up, the evaporation of fuel in the carburetors could be causing a problem. I suggested the spark check just to eliminate it as a cause, before going further with carburetor investigation.
I think you can check the carburetors when the engine is idling by removing the air silencer and placing the palm of your hand over the carburetor air intake. This should shut off that cylinder. If you try this on each cylinder you should see an effect on engine idle. If one cylinder has no effect on engine idle, that cylinder is probably not operating at idle.
Quogue posted 06-20-2012 12:14 PM ET (US)
Thanks for the input,
I have been calling my brother and giving him instructions. Here is what he has found out. One of the wires to a coil was damaged, he replaced the whole spark wire set and it idles great as always 600 rpm. it revs in neutral fine up to 4K scared to go further. Goes in forward fine until 1,500 rpm when gassed to go on a plane it sounds like some cylinders kick out and then it dies. It will start right up and idle fine after it dies.
He has also drained carbs and gas was clear, sprayed carb cleaner in carb and left overnight, sprayed low idle as well with cleaner, said carbs looked very clean, high speed is too hard for him to access.
All is well until you put a load on it.
I assume I don’t need to check for spark as it idles great and all is well in neutral. Boat mechanics swamped in eastern LI so no luck yet. 3 days left vacation. Got to love boating!
Any thoughts appreciated.
Quogue posted 06-20-2012 12:43 PM ET (US)
Well my brother just called back, he is very happy, turns out that testing was done with the platic cover off the carbs. He replaced the cover and was taking the Revenge back to the moring and gassed it one last time. It is working fine now. I find it hard to believe that the cover being off would cause the engine to die with a load. The actual engine cover was on during testing but the carb cover I assume restricts much more air.
Thanks again for all the input,brother Tom is off to Shinicock inlet and I am going back to work bummer!

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Author	Topic: 1989 Johnson 200 Idle
Quogue	posted 06-18-2012 06:00 PM ET (US) Hi fellow Whalers--I am having troubles with the idle on my [1989] Johnson 200-HP outboard engine. The engine was running great when I put her to bed with fogging oil like I always do. Started her up yesterday, and, after the fog oil burnt away, she was not idling properly. I need to run at 2,000-RPM to keep her going, then she jumps to 3,500 to [over] 4,500-RPM on her own. She will only idle for five to ten seconds at 800-RPM before dying. I am not a mechanic, but [the cause of the problem] sounds like a cylinder or two is intermittent. I pumped a half-gallon of gas out of the primer bulb and found no water. I replaced the fuel-water seperator filter and the six spark plugs to no avail. I sprayed some carburetor cleaner into the carburetors while she was running, but that did not help. Also soaked the engine in engine tuner for an hour, and that did not help. I suspect [the cause of the problem is in the] carburetors, but not sure how to proceed. I have taken off a 40-HP engine carburetor and cleaned it, but this is too much--six carburetor. Can I do something on the engine? The large brass screws at the front bottom of the carburetors (I assume) would drain the fuel from each carburetor. Should I do this? Anything else that a Sunday mechanic (myself) can do without getting in over my head? Local mechanics are too busy and can't look until next week, and my brother is on vacation this week--bummer for him. Revenge 22 is getting her [revenge]. The worst case: I will tell my brother to have some beers at the mooring and enjoy elsewhere the [money] he is saving in gas Thanks for any ideas.
jimh	posted 06-18-2012 08:07 PM ET (US) Have you checked for spark on all cylinders using an in-line spark tester?
Quogue	posted 06-19-2012 06:59 AM ET (US) I did not. All the used spark plugs looked the same, however. I should [have] checked that. I will ask my brother to do so, as I am not near the boat for a few days, and I will post results. Much apprciated. I assume if there is no spark that changing the coil is the next step? Thanks.
jimh	posted 06-19-2012 08:20 AM ET (US) Since the problem occurred after the winter lay-up, the evaporation of fuel in the carburetors could be causing a problem. I suggested the spark check just to eliminate it as a cause, before going further with carburetor investigation. I think you can check the carburetors when the engine is idling by removing the air silencer and placing the palm of your hand over the carburetor air intake. This should shut off that cylinder. If you try this on each cylinder you should see an effect on engine idle. If one cylinder has no effect on engine idle, that cylinder is probably not operating at idle.
Quogue	posted 06-20-2012 12:14 PM ET (US) Thanks for the input, I have been calling my brother and giving him instructions. Here is what he has found out. One of the wires to a coil was damaged, he replaced the whole spark wire set and it idles great as always 600 rpm. it revs in neutral fine up to 4K scared to go further. Goes in forward fine until 1,500 rpm when gassed to go on a plane it sounds like some cylinders kick out and then it dies. It will start right up and idle fine after it dies. He has also drained carbs and gas was clear, sprayed carb cleaner in carb and left overnight, sprayed low idle as well with cleaner, said carbs looked very clean, high speed is too hard for him to access. All is well until you put a load on it. I assume I don’t need to check for spark as it idles great and all is well in neutral. Boat mechanics swamped in eastern LI so no luck yet. 3 days left vacation. Got to love boating! Any thoughts appreciated.
Quogue	posted 06-20-2012 12:43 PM ET (US) Well my brother just called back, he is very happy, turns out that testing was done with the platic cover off the carbs. He replaced the cover and was taking the Revenge back to the moring and gassed it one last time. It is working fine now. I find it hard to believe that the cover being off would cause the engine to die with a load. The actual engine cover was on during testing but the carb cover I assume restricts much more air. Thanks again for all the input,brother Tom is off to Shinicock inlet and I am going back to work bummer!