140 evinrude cutting out (1985)

[tommytuttle]

hey guys,.. i never thought to post this here but you guys seem to know so much I thought I would try.

I have an 84 Outboard VRO (VRO is disconnected so running 50:1 mix) which keeps cutting out. Looks like possibly no spark. anyone know how to test the powerpack on them.

I've changed the fuel filter and it was pretty dirty but that didn't cure anything. it seems like it is skipping on two cyl.

It is a cottage boat, so I don't have easy access to it but I hope to load up and try a bunch of things this weekend.

1. clean carbs with seafoam treatment
2. change spark plugs
3. run separate fuel tank to see if it is a problem with the old tank (problem with antisyphon valve, debris in tank, primer bulb, etc)
4. kick it.

Any suggestions

 

[beaufort-fj60]

1. clean carbs with seafoam treatment
2. change spark plugs
3. run separate fuel tank to see if it is a problem with the old tank (problem with antisyphon valve, debris in tank, primer bulb, etc)
4. kick it.


sounds like a good plan. Do you have a fuel water separator?

 

[fsusteve]

the seperate fuel tank will tell you lots, if it's old gas the carbs are prolly full of trash.

 

[petescoffee]

I hated that motor when it was on my boat. Smart to disconnect oil injection all it ever did was sound an alarm and never worked right.
With that said, Fuel restriction was a common problem. Check your fuel tank for debris. Every boat is different but if you have a in hull mounted metal or aluminum tank they rust or flake or oxidize. Our in hull tank had a small screen where the fuel line came out of the tank. To get to it you had to remove the line and the nipple attached to the tank to get to the screen. Best to remove and throw away if you have one and put an in line filter in it's place. Bulbs get old and collapse as well.

If you don't have the screen filter check your other filter, assuming you have one or just out and out put a new one on.

Along the lines of the fuel tank issues are the gas tank vent. Check the line form the tank to where ever it comes out on the side of your boat. These lines get crushed, kinked, cracked, broken. Also most boats have a screen on the end of them that is fine mesh to keep objects out. Check this screen they oxidize and don't allow the tank to vent. Is it hard to fill up with gas? Always stopping the pump? That is one of the indications of a bad vent line.

If you think it is bad gas or a bad tank, brink a small 5 gallon boat gas tank with you with fresh gas and oil mix in it and hook it up. If it runs good that is the problem.

Are you using fuel saver in your gas if not do and keep your tank full to keep the fuel fresh and not allow the tank to condensate.

Are you running your engine completely out of gas before you leave the dock to go home. Disconnect the fuel line and run the gas out of the carb. If you haven't your carbs can be gummed up.

By the way we blew our motor up a few years back and bought a 115 evinrude and have had very few problems. The new four strokes are even better and you can't smell them.

Good Luck, Bring a kicker motor and a oar with you.
Dave

 

[mtb_rider]

By "cutting out" do you mean it completly dies, or just skips/misses while running? Do you have a spark checker? If you do, hook it up and check spark on all four cylinders, or check em one at a time with a screwdriver (one with a really good handle) or get a plug wire puller, and hold the wire about 1/4" or so from the plug, and have an assistant crank the motor. If you have spark on one side, but not the other, most likely you have a bad power pack. A simple test for this is to then swap packs (side to side). If the spark switches sides, then you know it is a pack. If it completely dies/shuts off, you probably have a stator issue. If you have spark on all four, but you suspect it's missing on two holes, that suggest a fuel issue. Another good way to isolate what cylinders are missing is to use the plug wire puller, and with the engine running ( on a garden hose is easiest) pull the wires one at a time. If they cylinders are running properly, you will hear a noticeable drop in RPM. If they are missing, you will hear nothing. That motor has two carbs, one for the top two cylinders, and one for the bottom two. If the top is running and the bottom not, or vice versa, that suggests a fuel supply problem. Put some fuel into a spray bottle, or you can use WD-40 or starting fluid works well (though some say starting fluid is bad because it is a solvent and washes the oil away, but there is so much residual oil in the motor, and you are giving such a quick blast it isn't really a problem) and give a quick shot into the carb with the corresponding missing cylinders. If the motor picks up for a few seconds, you need a carb rebuild.

 

[semlin]

i have an 85 johnson 120 but i think yours is a crossflow not a looper like mine. your plan to verify fuel to the carbs and check plugs first sounds good. for the hell of it, i'll guess it's a blocked fuel pickup. that's what i had this year during the first long run once the tank went below half way.

if those steps don't work, get the carbs exposed. spray fogging oil or gas or wd40 into the each throat one at a time at high idle or even underway if you can manage it with a buddy. you are looking for a carb that either does nothing at all or reacts differently to the others. once you isolate the trouble, it could still be either spark or carb. to figure that out swap the power packs over and see if it goes with the powerpack. if it doesn't it's the carb.

btw the forum at www.iboats.com is the best place on the web for help on these. there are a couple of johnnyrude mechanics in the johnson/evinrude section.