Thread: 1983 115 hp Johnson

Give us some more history of the motor. Was it a complete rebuild with new rings/pistons etc.? How long ago was rebuild? How long have you owned this motor? Has the motor ever run right? Have you ever got it to run faster than idle? Did the person that owned it before have this problem or other issues before you bought it, if he will tell you.......

Have you tried pinching the hose shut on the solenoid or plug the line so no fuel can pass to the cylinders to see if that stops the flooding?
The knob on the top of the choke solenoid you said changed the idle...??? higher or lower? I am not familiar with that but it must be letting fuel through for it to change the Idle speed.

READ THIS +++++++++
I just found another possibility. That red lever on the solenoid may be in the wrong position!! !!!!! Try turning it to the opposite direction until it stops and try that.....

The red lever is a manual choke and is only supposed to be used if the solenoid is not working.
The motor will Be IN CONSTANT CHOKE if left on....................

I've only had the boat for two weeks. It was traded in at a car lot when the precious owner moved to Texas so I can't contact him. The motor was completely rebuilt new rings pistons ect. the end of last year. I have spoken with the shop that rebuilt it. They are reputable in this area.

When I first took it out it didn't idle really well but opened up fine and ran great outside of just a idle. The third time I took it out it flooded as I was loading it onto the trailer. I haven't gotten it to run since. Every time it floods either idling or trying to crank it and it will not hit again. I can take the plugs out and dry them and it will hit one time and then nothing.

I'm going to check compression and spark this evening just to make sure all that is good. I'll report my findings after running those test.

PM sent.
Keep us all posted as to out come.

It cranked and idle better today on muffs. I wanted to take it out but a storm moved through so I didn't get to. Maybe Monday I'll be able to put it in the water.

I still don't know what's been going on with the motor and haven't done anything to fix the problem so I'm not confident in the motor.

May be a long shot but have you checked your electrical system?? A cheap spark tester at a parts store would do the trick. I may have missed it. But its possible that its flooding because you aren't getting the fire you need. If you haven't checked the spark it might be worth a shot. Yes, they may be sparking...but you may not have that big nice white spark. Are you running champions?? In my experience the johnnyrudes like them over NGK or anything else. Are they open are closed electrode plugs? Just another thought or two. A weak spark that floods out and not fire will look like a flooded engine also. Seems odd it was good a couple trips then all up and did it. It might also be a good time to get a manual for the engine. Not one of the cheap ones from autozone...like a clymer...I think its kencook.com if I remember right you can get a repro of the OEM manual. ONLY way to go. Keep us informed...this one has me intrigued!!!

Thanks for your reply. I did purchase a spark tester and all wires appear to be producing great spark.

When I went to test spark Fri. it cranked right up. I let it idle on muffs and it did great. I am hoping to take it out tomorrow evening and see how it does in the water. I don't feel like I have resolved the problem. I hate issues that are sporadic lol.

Still having problems with this motor. I thought it was the reed valves. Two looked good and two appeared to be bad. I replaced the two bad ones and I still have the problem. I guess I'm going to give up and wait a month for the shop to look at it. I don't know anything else to do. I do appreciate all the input and help from members here.

You may want to add a tell- tale to your motor. Easy to do, and inexpensive.