There are many places on RUclips showing how to test the coils, when you pump the primer the ballshould be verticle. Did you drain the carbs? Take each system and test it out to eliminate it as your problem. Test the fuel pump to see if it is actually pumping. You have been very systematic in your build. Do the same on the motor. There is a simple tester to put between the spark plug wire and the plug. It lights up when the coil fires. It is about $10. A cheap tester. I rebuilt my sons 1990 150 Johnson last winter. I overhauled the carbs but they gave me fits until I finally got them right. Keep persevering and you will get it right. Good luck, John
You have a lot of sweat equity in this boat, there are many of your fans out here, including myself that wait for your videos to drop. I could read in your face how disappointed you were when your outboard was having issues. Don't let your heart be troubled. There is some really great advice in the comments that I have read so far. So, don't give up on your outboard yet, with a little more time and patience you will adapt and overcome my friend. You will soon have that outboard running like a champ! God bless you and keep your videos coming. Be well, and keep safe.
You sure said what I feel. I'm 40 years old and also have been through it. Just hang in there and don't give up. You have spent so much time making it look good I know with a little bit of patience and some more time I know you will have it out on the water soon. I would even come from Wisconsin to help
Do the basics on the motor. Check every cylinder for spark, check every cylinder's compression, clean the carbs, make sure no jets are clogged and the floats are floating, needle valves still rubbery and air screws are set properly. Spark, compression and fuel. Might also be a good idea to pull the reed cage and make sure the reeds are good, none are bent open or broken.
When you have it running it does not sound like all cylinders are firing, sounds like 4 or 3 out of 6, it runs very rough and a V6 will have a stronger sound. Could have a weak coil, bad spark plug wire. Not the fuel pump, not the water pump. It is idling on the driveway on 3 or 4 cylinders due to no back pressure of not being in the water. When you have it in the water you have back pressure and since all cylinders are not firing it is struggling to stay running. You can pull the plug wires when running on the driveway one at a time, if it changes when pulled that one is running. If you pull one and no change, that one is not firing. Do them one at a time, pull it, put it back, go to the next one and repeat. I have a V6 150 Yamaha running at idle on my channel and you can hear how a strong they should sound on the muffs on the driveway.
I feel like you should keep on going with the repairs/maintenance on that engine. Seeing you struggle and overcome the issues brings a lot of confidence in me (and many others). I've never owned a boat, I fear to repair stuff even if I know I'm able to (I always fear I will screw it up because I've always been told I'm a failure, from my dad to my workplaces...) and now, because of your videos, I just bought myself a 1989 Marvac 14ft boat for 1,300$CAD (1000$USD) (nothing special, it was made the year I was born, everything is in great shape except 1 crack in the hull and a I HOPE minor repair to the floor)... but it came with no mechanics (he took it off and put it on his pontoon)... so now, I'm on the hunt for that and by watching your videos, I feel like I know way more about outboard engines than I used to. I'm going tomorrow to check for an engine which hasn't run for 4 to 5 years (the guy said)... I'll do a compression test, I'll check the spark plugs, I'll check the cylinders (unplug spark cover and hear for a different sound), I'll check the engine's foot fluids, I'll check if the VRO is disconnected as I believe it isn't from the pictures and he says he's running 50:1 gas/oil ratio... I may fail and buy a piece of junk, or I may have a killer deal at $800CAD(600$USD) for a boat, an engine, a trim&tilt and a trailer, who knows... but all I know is, I'll do just like you and keep pushing until it works. I love the fact that this motor is a 1988 50hp Johnson with tilt & trim, it was made around the same time as my boat, I love Johnson's and Evinrude's, I also love the fact that it isn't ugly, discolored, peeling or cracked... and I feel like it's just the perfect size for my small boat... so I'll make it work no matter what it takes because I feel like its the one for me. All because of your videos and the passion you seem to have in this boat and engine!
I have an old Evinrude 88 and I can't wait to replace the dang thing. HOWEVER, I would start with checking each cylinder for spark. Get it running and pull off the plug wires safely and listen for a change. No change, the cylinder isn't firing. This will tell you if you have a bad coil or not for that cylinder. Second, take apart the fuel pump and make sure the screen is clean. I would also turn the idle up a smidge it does sound a little low.
Hi, 9 times out of 10 it’s the carbs. You don’t need new kits to clean them. Just be careful with the gaskets. They are super easy to disassemble and clean with little to no cost, watch a couple of videos. Leave linkage together as much as possible and you won’t even need to readjust. Watch for air leaks in your fuel feed and let’s see that boat at WOT! I’ve really enjoyed watching you fix this rig up.
I have an older mercury and mine would do the same. The excess oil in the gas would make the spark plugs fowl up. I reduced the mixture and fixed problem
Just had this issue with my 90hp mercury 2 stroke. I had to pull and clean out the carbs. That was the ticket. So much crap in there. Also ran sea foam marine. Also had issue with 2 gas prime bulbs. Listen for air leaks around the fuel line connections.
Just cleaned up a 150 Johnson same model as yours. 90% chance its your fuel system. 1. replace fuel filters with high quality clear (for visibility) filters 2. Clean and rebuild all carbs 3. If 1 and 2 don't work check fuel pump. (I replaced mine with a carter electric fuel pump and very happy i did but most will recommend against) you can easily check fuel pump by connecting and elevating an upside down gatorade bottle with fuel to the proper height to ensure 4psi of pressure if it runs on that its your pump. 4. This assumes you have spark and compression which it looks like you do because it runs under prime. 5. dont overthink it these motors are simple carburated 2 strokes 6. Check for vacuum leaks. too.
You need to test Spark and compression also take a fuel sample to verify no water or particulated matter in the fuel.if its not a VRO Motor you can get a diaphragm and gasket kit to rebuild the fuel pump and if you know a decent marine tech with a CD 77 Peak reading volt meter then he can do some ignition system tests to see if there might be a bad trigger or stator or possibly a CD Pack.if it has a VRO Pump that's bad,you can replace it with a electric fuel pump and just premix your fuel at 50:1.My fam was in the boat biz for many,many years and although we were A Merc dealership we did work on a few of the OMC Outboards from time to time.I think that old outboard is worth fixing if the compression is good across all 6.Hope this helps you out.
I’m thinking of documenting my boat restoration, I have a evinrude 175hp on the boat I bought. I put a battery in it and “starts” like yours in the beginning but I’m sure it’s because of my fuel line.
do a spark test. you arent firing on all 6 cylinders. likely a few bad coils or powerpack/stator if you've already cleaned the carburetors. Test a coil by swapping them to see if the problem follows (bad coil) or if the no fire stays (powerpack or stator). Proper starting procedure - pump up bulb firm. push in key switch to prime 10 times or so. then hold key in while turning the motor over. push key in as needed to keep motor running until it idles on its own.
it runs good on starting fluid. it's got good spark, it's fuel, it's not picking up it's prime. fuel pump diaphragms are cheap and easy to change. also may need to clean carbs, or put in a carb kit. All cheap parts. It's a good motor it just needs a little love.
You should've definitely soaked the carbs and cylinders with Evinrude engine tuner. You run it at idle on the muffs and spray tuner into each carb and cylinder until the engine almost bogs out then go to the next cylinder and so on. Let it soak for a day then take it to the lake and run it, varying throttle and opening it up. When you take it back home change out the plugs and you're good. Might have other things going on but this helped my old Evinrude a lot when I had one.
I wouldn’t trust the silver fuel lines, I would replace them with a vehicle pump line(the black line) the reason for this is because the silver fuel line has a liner inside of the hose and it gets clogged a lot causing the engine to not receive enough fuel. Had the same except problem when I thought my fuel pump was out. I replaced the fuel pump anyways
Check the bolts that bolt each side of the block halves together. I had an Evinrude that was running lean due to it sucking air between the halves of the engine block.
Coils aren't the only cause for down cylinders. Power packs go and take out the entire side. Get it to fire and pull plug wire one at a time to check for fire. Having the small wire coming from power pack to coil on wrong coil will cause a misfire as well. Timer base can give you tons of similar issues as well. Also get it fired up and spray around carb bases with carb cleaner and see if it changes idle. That too can cause similar issues.
As a guy doing just about the same thing as you, you will get a ton of answers and reason for the fuel issue. You can do a lot without spending a ton. If those don’t work then bust out the wallet lol I personally think it would be great content if you do keep working on the motor and showing your steps along the way. I’ve replaced just about everything on the outside of my motor and I know it can be frustrating. I have no idea where your living but surely there is a lake within driving distance for you to get that boat opened up on. Good luck
I have the 175 my fuel pumps went out so I ordered some but before they came in I wired up a 5 to 7 psi electric fuel pump and never had a problem with it boiling the carbs.
my fuel pump failed on my 150 and i had similar issues. probably the same thing. I removed the VRO on mine, replaced it with an oem fuel pump, and started pre mixing. i’m assuming it’s similar on this motor. the Johnson VRO was not good at all on these motors and was prone to failure.
The fact it ran on starting fluid means you are not getting fuel. Run through your fuel system. Replace the fuel pump, filters and clean or remove the vro and premix for starters.
Guarantee it wasn't ypur vro, deleting the vro usually cause more problems, the vro is a simple compression pump, no compression the vro doesn't work properly.
I have an 88' Skeeter with a rotted out transom. Once my outboard finally seized, I removed the motor and threw on an electric tiller with 55lbs of thrust. I hardly run the outboard where I fish. I do miss getting on plane and the boat doesn't sit right in the water anymore (not enough weight in the rear with the motor gone). It fishes fine, but it's a bit janky...
I had a 82 Johnson 150 that was a pain to start. That motor should have the same diaphragm style fuel pump. They are easy to swap out to the new high volume style ones. But check the ones you have to make sure the screens are not clogged. I had to push my key in to choke it for 15 seconds before I ever tried to start it. Good luck man!
Add a tachometer, replace fuel pump, delete the vro. Clean carbs. Idle it up to about 1100 on the hose. Once in water, it should idle lower. If that doesn’t work, check the coil packs, and the signal wire going to them.
If you haven't cleaned the carbs do that before you try running it. Because even if you get a good fuel pump and everything firing correctly then you test it on rhe water and the carbs are running lean you take a chance at blowing the engine. Not cleaning the carbs could be a $3000 mistake.
did you mess with the carberator needle? needles? sounds like its not getting enough gas, like the fuel mix ratio is not correct but yet i own a 2 stroke...
If that's a Pantera 2, you've got a great hull under you. That's a mid 60's running boat all day long with one guy. And that 45 pound thrust TM was a staple for those days. I had an '88 Skeeter with a 42 pound Motor guide.
I thought I was the only crazy one out there. I rebuilt a 97 StarCraft 190 superfisherman. Repowered with merc 115: it’s an excellent boat for the Great Lakes and new ones are just stupid expensive.
I think you did a compression test on her a while back but can’t remember for sure. You definitely want to do that before spending a bunch of money on the motor. If compression is around 110-120 and all cylinders are within about 10psi of each other, she will run. I think a fuel pump kit is in order, and you definitely want to do a water pump kit too (that has nothing to do with the motor running, but it’s a must to KEEP it running once you get it). Motors do typically run different on muffs vs foot in the water, part of this may be due to the angle (level) of the motor in driveway vs boat in the water. I believe you have a fuel issue, and I think pulling the carbs and ensuring they are cleaned and keys are all clear is in order. Carb cleaning isn’t hard, water pump isn’t hard, and neither is fuel pump. I think you can do all this for not much over $100. I’ve been watching you and you definitely have what it takes to accomplish these tasks and you need to learn how to do them anyhow! If compression is decent it’s worth saving the motor. I almost forgot…. Check the foot oil to make sure it’s not full of water….You can change it later, but it would be good to know your foot isn’t shot or that may be a reason to re-think as a lower unit rebuild will be pricy. Keep it up! You have done a nice job on this boat and have learned a lot. It’s been fun watching this! Good luck!
Those motors gt150 were the best motors Johnson ever made. I love them because they are simple. Do a vro pump delete kit. it's like 100 bucks. You can do it yourself. Very easy. Mix your own oil an gas clean your carbs. Again very easy. Check your spark on each cylinder. If you find one not firing swap the coil if the problem moves you have a bad coil. The motor is definitely worth fixing trust me I do this for a living.
Get a set Guitar strings and clean all the passages in the carbs plus soak in carburetor cleaner over night. Then reassemble to factory specifications. DO NOT USE 87 OCTANE GAS. USE 93+ OCTANE NON-ETHANOL GAS. Get you some Startron marine additive for your boat. Designed for any gas engine that isn't ran daily. That setup for weeks at a time. Hope this helps. Also check out Cody Bass He has a GREAT DIY marine engine channel with great tips. 🍺🎣
Sounds like dirty low speed jets (gummed up by old fuel). Back pressure caused by having the exhaust in the water requires a richer mixture than needed to run on the hose. May need a carb rebuild.
I have the exact same motor however mine is a 1987 if I was you I would download the CDI Troubleshooting chart for the motor I would test the timing base test the stator test the power packs and the coils, definitely rebuild the carburetors. I have coils in power packs if you need them.
Compression + fuel + spark = GOOOO. I think you showed compression at one point and it was okay. Next step you should check spark using a spark gap tester set to 7/16” gap. If spark is good you should install a proper dual fuel pump if you’re going to premix and clean the carbs with OEM rebuild kits. you have to cover all these basics with an unknown motor.
Look up the cdi troubleshooting guide for your motor it will walk you through diagnostic process on that motor. If you are using the Grey fuel line throw it in the trash the liner comes loose and stops the flow of fuel. If you haven't already done a compression test I would start there. To test the fuel pump put a hose in a regular gas jug and see if it pulls fuel.if it does check your tank vent if it is not working it will vapor lock in a sense. Check spark on all cylinders and follow the directions on the cdi troubleshooting guide and you will be running in no time. Or let me know I'll come get the motor I need a 150 lol
I don’t know where in Nebraska you live, but I’m in Kansas about 3 miles from the border. We have a lake here that you can open throttle on if your interested?
i’ve had the same experience with my old johnson 150 at the boat ramp more times then i’d like to admit 😂 they are a hag to start when cold. you definetly have a fuel issue
Good send bro. If it were me bro I'd get a new motor bro. It sounds like all cylinders aren't firing but I think you would spend more money trying to fix it versus just getting a newer one. But way to never give up dude. It's a inspiration and motivated
2 stroke engines require fuel, spark, and compression to run. You have all three. Now it comes down to tunning and syncing the carbs. Check the timing also....a simple timing light can be used. My bet is that the carbs are dirty and or are not tuned.
Rebuild all three carbs the kits are around 30$ each and only run 91 octane in it. I literally have the exact same engine and it did all of the same things. Also make 100% sure each one of the carburetor linkages are synchronized if not then it will run lean and will cause issues. I do think you need a new fule pump too. I had put an electric in line pump on mine to get it on the water at first and it got the job done until I ordered the mechanical one. Good luck those old Johnsons are picky man.
I would definitely start with the fuel pump! Then, see what else might be an issue, but I think the pump will get you running! Then maybe you can check other stuff over time.
I have a 1998 Johnson 225 Venom with a 20 inch shaft for that boat. I took off of my Stratos 201 Pro Elite bass boat with literally maybe 90 hours on it that runs like an absolute dream for sale, it would be prefect on that Bass Cat, comes with all the rigging. I am asking 6k OBO..
Boat motors act completely different under a load vs on the muffs. It sounds/acts like a fuel pump issue. But, you can rent a fuel pressure tester from O’Reillys or buy a coil tester from harbor freight for $5
Do not use anything but marine grade fuel line from a very well known brand. Gray, silver, clear are from china and they can say something is marine grade but isn't. Make sure whatever you get does NOT have an inter liner in the hose.
If that primer dosent get hard and stays pretty soft then the fuel pump diaphrams are screwed that will flood a cylinder and make it not pump enough fuel
I highly recommend either doing a compression test or start it and start pulling plug wires one by one. If nothing changes in terms of it running then you have a dead cylinder, if it bogs down more then that cylinder is firing. It’s definitely not running in all cylinders. As far as the mechanical fuel pump, if I’m not mistaken I believe they are vacuum operated, I could be wrong, if it is then start checking the vacuum lines if they check out my guess is the diaphragm in the pump is torn or deteriorated. If that’s the case I would go with a new fuel pump. I would highly recommend investing in a cheaper multimeter, something around the $35 mark. If you find out there are dead cylinder(s) check for spark if you can, then check the resistance of the dead cylinder plug wires, they should be some where around 2-3 kilo ohms if I had to guess. If it’s some crazy number like 15 kilo ohms or higher then replace the wires. It’s possible but rare for the coils to go out. Those are just my thoughts, hope you resolve the issue. Also one more thing, I would pull the heads off and check the gaskets, your water jacket runs around the cylinder near the head and can kill your detonation if water leaks into the cylinder because if a bad gasket. Have a good one man
Pull up the warm up lever! That’s not the choke when you pull up the lever it advances the timing!! You push in the key to choke !!! So keep it pushed In while cranking
I would do compression tests. It sounds like all the cylinders are not firing. For the money you would have to spend before I would go to all the trouble I would check on used good motor.
When it is running, it doesn’t sound like it’s firing on all six. Check fire on each cylinder-could be a fouled plug or a bad coil. Fuel issue as well. Like others have said, fuel pump could be bad or dirty. I have the 1990 model of that motor, when running right, she’s a beast but can be fickle when starting. I’ve gone months without running it and it will crank on the first try and I’ve had it not start on day 2 of a fishing trip.
You can do it yourself. I did!, it was a 175 mercury turned up to 200hp, replaced coils, power packs reoved magneto, ect. Cleaned up carbs she would scream Boisen Reed Valves, balanced flywheel for 15000 rpm added alternator kit. Do it yourself and learn. Be patient and ask lots of questions. Those Johnson GT150 can be turned up a lot, make a stock 200 cry... It's not rocket science it's a marine engine... 🤣 🍺🎣
Definitely seems that you don’t have constant fuel, I’d say rule that out. Use a small piece of clear hose and start bypassing lines with that see through hose so you will know where you have fuel and where you don’t
Gotta be a mechanic close to you to give you a good educated guess as to where to start. Have a feeling it’s multiple issues after sitting for years. You replace plugs and wires yet?
Go to the parts store and get regular automotive fuel line. Get a cheap electric fuel pump and try that. The water pump has nothing to do with it not running
It should not be $500 dollars to fix that. There are cheaper coils online. Look up how to ohm your oils/ test them off the boat. Also a fuel pump can be maybe $50 or less. Please don’t give up. I thought I had mine fixed and as soon as I put it on the water that happened to me. I later found out that my spark plug wires was on tight. If compression is good, don’t give up!
Could be a number of things. But there is nothing really wrong with the motor. Clean the carbs replace the full pump. Get a manual for your specific engine. Alot of good troubleshooting for that exact problem. Water pump looked fine to me. Get a manual and you will be fine.
Jordan I would like to see you get that motor going. I had a similar issue with my 85 yamy 115. Replaced the fuel pump & clean carbs and fuel system & she’s running good. But I had a mechanic do the job so if you’re up for it I’d like to see what it takes to get it going. Love the channel man!🤙🏻
Fuel, timing or fouled ignition spark. Sounded terrible at the lake. Don't give up on that motor. You'll figure it out. Boat floats and no leaks, that's great news. At this point I would just concentrate just on the motor issue. Good luck.
I don’t know how you do it but if there’s a way to contact Brandon‘s garage, he’s another RUclipsr and seems to specializes in boat motors. He seems like a wiz on that older omc stuff. Those old Johnson’s are workhorses and tough to kill mechanically but 1st step I would do is a proper compression check. Then check for spark at each cylinder (coils), broken fuel lines (crappy ethanol blend f-s up everything), could also be a timing issue. Those advance arms get corroded if they sit too long. Don’t give up though, great content.
If you have bad compression you are wasting your time. If the compression is good, it is surely worth fixing, if you do it yourself. You can replace half the parts on the motor for the price of a professional going through the motor. Next time you get it running in the driveway. Hold a rag in front of the intake to see if it is drawing in continuous or if it is pulsing in air, or not drawing at all. The reed plates in a 2 stroke need to close tight to run good. This is often why people have trouble with starting these old 2 strokes even after rebuilding the carbs. I wouldn't worry about this until you have made sure that you have good compression, spark, and fuel delivery on all cylinders. It is worth checking the draw as it will let you know if there is an issue. Good luck.
So did u check the sparkplugs? Sounds like a fuel ⛽️ issue also. I'm sure you will figure it out. Cosmetic 💄 lly you did a flicking fantastic job all the colors are nice love the seats think I missed that episode. It looks like a brand new boat. Fix the problems then christen it with a split of Asti.your italian, champagne 🍾 is pricey. Congrats pondhopper. Job well done 🌹 🍺 🎣 🚣♀️ so proud of u and your assistant rachel.
So first, auto store starting fluid is not good for two stroke motors. Sounds like fuel is your issue. Check for water in the fuel, plugged filter of fuel pump. I believe these is a filter I the pump. Could be a issue in the carbs, sticking float or plugged jets. These are common and easy to fix.
I feel like I remember you doing a compression test on the engine a while back. Knowing that you have a cylinder or two failing the compression test, it’d hard for me to invest anything into that engine without tearing it down and rebuilding it. At that age, probably not worth it. If there’s a marine mechanic around you might be able to Sweet talk them into confirming your findings with the compression. That would be the first place.
First thing I would do before spending money on the engine is a compression test, if good then check which cylinders are not firing (sounds like 1 or 2 are not) by pulling plug wires 1 by 1 to see which cylinder or cylinders plug wires being pulled change the rpm while running. Then I would check condition of plugs on the bad cylinders and check for spark on those. Then I would clean the carbs next if spark and compression is all good
I rigged up an electric fuel pump off amazon on my 150. flick it on when you get ready to crank and run and it keeps constant fuel going to the pump and carbs.
I would check the idle adjust if needed when in water pulling from water from lake is different from water hose to the lower unit due to motor having to pull water instead of getting push in. For a 2 stroke motor seems to sound like it’s idling really low. What I also would try is when you get it fire up in the water like that keep it idle for a bit see if will warm up the motor
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There are many places on RUclips showing how to test the coils, when you pump the primer the ballshould be verticle. Did you drain the carbs? Take each system and test it out to eliminate it as your problem. Test the fuel pump to see if it is actually pumping. You have been very systematic in your build. Do the same on the motor. There is a simple tester to put between the spark plug wire and the plug. It lights up when the coil fires. It is about $10. A cheap tester. I rebuilt my sons 1990 150 Johnson last winter. I overhauled the carbs but they gave me fits until I finally got them right. Keep persevering and you will get it right. Good luck, John
Russell79TuLlpLN
You have a lot of sweat equity in this boat, there are many of your fans out here, including myself that wait for your videos to drop. I could read in your face how disappointed you were when your outboard was having issues. Don't let your heart be troubled. There is some really great advice in the comments that I have read so far. So, don't give up on your outboard yet, with a little more time and patience you will adapt and overcome my friend. You will soon have that outboard running like a champ! God bless you and keep your videos coming. Be well, and keep safe.
Needed this comment!
You sure said what I feel.
I'm 40 years old and also have been through it. Just hang in there and don't give up. You have spent so much time making it look good I know with a little bit of patience and some more time I know you will have it out on the water soon. I would even come from Wisconsin to help
Do the basics on the motor. Check every cylinder for spark, check every cylinder's compression, clean the carbs, make sure no jets are clogged and the floats are floating, needle valves still rubbery and air screws are set properly. Spark, compression and fuel. Might also be a good idea to pull the reed cage and make sure the reeds are good, none are bent open or broken.
When you have it running it does not sound like all cylinders are firing, sounds like 4 or 3 out of 6, it runs very rough and a V6 will have a stronger sound. Could have a weak coil, bad spark plug wire. Not the fuel pump, not the water pump. It is idling on the driveway on 3 or 4 cylinders due to no back pressure of not being in the water. When you have it in the water you have back pressure and since all cylinders are not firing it is struggling to stay running. You can pull the plug wires when running on the driveway one at a time, if it changes when pulled that one is running. If you pull one and no change, that one is not firing. Do them one at a time, pull it, put it back, go to the next one and repeat. I have a V6 150 Yamaha running at idle on my channel and you can hear how a strong they should sound on the muffs on the driveway.
This is helpful, do you have an Instagram? Message me!
Damn you know whats up bro
Yea those cylinders aint firing off right
Get a compression test kit plug in the spark plugs holes and let the testing begin you got some bad compression going on
Also be careful pulling plug wires off while running. It could be a shocking experience.
Try turning the idle up a little. When put in the water idle will be lower than on the ear muffs on the lower.
I feel like you should keep on going with the repairs/maintenance on that engine.
Seeing you struggle and overcome the issues brings a lot of confidence in me (and many others).
I've never owned a boat, I fear to repair stuff even if I know I'm able to (I always fear I will screw it up because I've always been told I'm a failure, from my dad to my workplaces...) and now, because of your videos, I just bought myself a 1989 Marvac 14ft boat for 1,300$CAD (1000$USD) (nothing special, it was made the year I was born, everything is in great shape except 1 crack in the hull and a I HOPE minor repair to the floor)... but it came with no mechanics (he took it off and put it on his pontoon)... so now, I'm on the hunt for that and by watching your videos, I feel like I know way more about outboard engines than I used to. I'm going tomorrow to check for an engine which hasn't run for 4 to 5 years (the guy said)... I'll do a compression test, I'll check the spark plugs, I'll check the cylinders (unplug spark cover and hear for a different sound), I'll check the engine's foot fluids, I'll check if the VRO is disconnected as I believe it isn't from the pictures and he says he's running 50:1 gas/oil ratio... I may fail and buy a piece of junk, or I may have a killer deal at $800CAD(600$USD) for a boat, an engine, a trim&tilt and a trailer, who knows... but all I know is, I'll do just like you and keep pushing until it works. I love the fact that this motor is a 1988 50hp Johnson with tilt & trim, it was made around the same time as my boat, I love Johnson's and Evinrude's, I also love the fact that it isn't ugly, discolored, peeling or cracked... and I feel like it's just the perfect size for my small boat... so I'll make it work no matter what it takes because I feel like its the one for me. All because of your videos and the passion you seem to have in this boat and engine!
I have an old Evinrude 88 and I can't wait to replace the dang thing. HOWEVER, I would start with checking each cylinder for spark. Get it running and pull off the plug wires safely and listen for a change. No change, the cylinder isn't firing. This will tell you if you have a bad coil or not for that cylinder. Second, take apart the fuel pump and make sure the screen is clean. I would also turn the idle up a smidge it does sound a little low.
Hi,
9 times out of 10 it’s the carbs. You don’t need new kits to clean them. Just be careful with the gaskets.
They are super easy to disassemble and clean with little to no cost, watch a couple of videos. Leave linkage together as much as possible and you won’t even need to readjust.
Watch for air leaks in your fuel feed and let’s see that boat at WOT!
I’ve really enjoyed watching you fix this rig up.
I have an older mercury and mine would do the same. The excess oil in the gas would make the spark plugs fowl up. I reduced the mixture and fixed problem
Just had this issue with my 90hp mercury 2 stroke. I had to pull and clean out the carbs. That was the ticket. So much crap in there. Also ran sea foam marine. Also had issue with 2 gas prime bulbs. Listen for air leaks around the fuel line connections.
Fuel pump and stator I had same issue with my Johnson motor ran on muffs but not under load of water. Good luck
Just cleaned up a 150 Johnson same model as yours. 90% chance its your fuel system.
1. replace fuel filters with high quality clear (for visibility) filters
2. Clean and rebuild all carbs
3. If 1 and 2 don't work check fuel pump. (I replaced mine with a carter electric fuel pump and very happy i did but most will recommend against) you can easily check fuel pump by connecting and elevating an upside down gatorade bottle with fuel to the proper height to ensure 4psi of pressure if it runs on that its your pump.
4. This assumes you have spark and compression which it looks like you do because it runs under prime.
5. dont overthink it these motors are simple carburated 2 strokes
6. Check for vacuum leaks. too.
You need to keep the motor! I have faith that you can figure out the issue and you have tons of good advice coming in.
I’ve always tuned my carbs with the exhaust in the water vs just on muffs. More back pressure with it in the water.
You need to test Spark and compression also take a fuel sample to verify no water or particulated matter in the fuel.if its not a VRO Motor you can get a diaphragm and gasket kit to rebuild the fuel pump and if you know a decent marine tech with a CD 77 Peak reading volt meter then he can do some ignition system tests to see if there might be a bad trigger or stator or possibly a CD Pack.if it has a VRO Pump that's bad,you can replace it with a electric fuel pump and just premix your fuel at 50:1.My fam was in the boat biz for many,many years and although we were A Merc dealership we did work on a few of the OMC Outboards from time to time.I think that old outboard is worth fixing if the compression is good across all 6.Hope this helps you out.
I’m thinking of documenting my boat restoration, I have a evinrude 175hp on the boat I bought. I put a battery in it and “starts” like yours in the beginning but I’m sure it’s because of my fuel line.
Bet anything it is bad fuel. Do you run ethanol fuel. Replace the bulb, all fuel lines and rebuild the carbs including the needle valves. Pump rebuild
do a spark test. you arent firing on all 6 cylinders. likely a few bad coils or powerpack/stator if you've already cleaned the carburetors. Test a coil by swapping them to see if the problem follows (bad coil) or if the no fire stays (powerpack or stator). Proper starting procedure - pump up bulb firm. push in key switch to prime 10 times or so. then hold key in while turning the motor over. push key in as needed to keep motor running until it idles on its own.
The video America has been waiting for all summer!! In the water baby.
it runs good on starting fluid. it's got good spark, it's fuel, it's not picking up it's prime. fuel pump diaphragms are cheap and easy to change. also may need to clean carbs, or put in a carb kit. All cheap parts. It's a good motor it just needs a little love.
You should've definitely soaked the carbs and cylinders with Evinrude engine tuner. You run it at idle on the muffs and spray tuner into each carb and cylinder until the engine almost bogs out then go to the next cylinder and so on. Let it soak for a day then take it to the lake and run it, varying throttle and opening it up. When you take it back home change out the plugs and you're good. Might have other things going on but this helped my old Evinrude a lot when I had one.
I wouldn’t trust the silver fuel lines, I would replace them with a vehicle pump line(the black line) the reason for this is because the silver fuel line has a liner inside of the hose and it gets clogged a lot causing the engine to not receive enough fuel. Had the same except problem when I thought my fuel pump was out. I replaced the fuel pump anyways
I’ve heard this same thing. The first thing my mechanic did was get rid of the silver lines. I thought they’d be better but not so.
Check the bolts that bolt each side of the block halves together. I had an Evinrude that was running lean due to it sucking air between the halves of the engine block.
If compression is good on all cylinders, it’s worth fixing.
Coils aren't the only cause for down cylinders. Power packs go and take out the entire side. Get it to fire and pull plug wire one at a time to check for fire. Having the small wire coming from power pack to coil on wrong coil will cause a misfire as well. Timer base can give you tons of similar issues as well. Also get it fired up and spray around carb bases with carb cleaner and see if it changes idle. That too can cause similar issues.
As a guy doing just about the same thing as you, you will get a ton of answers and reason for the fuel issue. You can do a lot without spending a ton. If those don’t work then bust out the wallet lol I personally think it would be great content if you do keep working on the motor and showing your steps along the way. I’ve replaced just about everything on the outside of my motor and I know it can be frustrating. I have no idea where your living but surely there is a lake within driving distance for you to get that boat opened up on. Good luck
I promise there’s not 😭🤣 I wish!
I have the 175 my fuel pumps went out so I ordered some but before they came in I wired up a 5 to 7 psi electric fuel pump and never had a problem with it boiling the carbs.
My 175 is on my page running if u wanna see how they r supposed to sound. And I'd recommend not to run ethanol in it.
my fuel pump failed on my 150 and i had similar issues. probably the same thing. I removed the VRO on mine, replaced it with an oem fuel pump, and started pre mixing. i’m assuming it’s similar on this motor. the Johnson VRO was not good at all on these motors and was prone to failure.
And if that’s not it’s something that is liable to break in the near future. not really a hard fix but it can save you a lot of trouble.
It idles in driveway cause there is no back pressure on the lower but there is back pressure in the water turn up the idle a hair
The fact it ran on starting fluid means you are not getting fuel. Run through your fuel system. Replace the fuel pump, filters and clean or remove the vro and premix for starters.
I deleted the VRO a while back.
I would never put starting fluid in a outboard motor. Use your mix gas to fire it up.
Guarantee it wasn't ypur vro, deleting the vro usually cause more problems, the vro is a simple compression pump, no compression the vro doesn't work properly.
I have an 88' Skeeter with a rotted out transom. Once my outboard finally seized, I removed the motor and threw on an electric tiller with 55lbs of thrust. I hardly run the outboard where I fish. I do miss getting on plane and the boat doesn't sit right in the water anymore (not enough weight in the rear with the motor gone). It fishes fine, but it's a bit janky...
I had a 82 Johnson 150 that was a pain to start. That motor should have the same diaphragm style fuel pump. They are easy to swap out to the new high volume style ones. But check the ones you have to make sure the screens are not clogged. I had to push my key in to choke it for 15 seconds before I ever tried to start it. Good luck man!
I think the idle needs adjusted when in the water it idles lower then when out of water and the fuel pump could be done
Add a tachometer, replace fuel pump, delete the vro. Clean carbs. Idle it up to about 1100 on the hose. Once in water, it should idle lower. If that doesn’t work, check the coil packs, and the signal wire going to them.
If you haven't cleaned the carbs do that before you try running it. Because even if you get a good fuel pump and everything firing correctly then you test it on rhe water and the carbs are running lean you take a chance at blowing the engine. Not cleaning the carbs could be a $3000 mistake.
Cleaned them a few vids ago!
@@TightlineTV awesome, I'm glad you took care of that part. I bet if you get a good fuel pump then make sure it's firing on all 6 you'll get her going
did you mess with the carberator needle? needles? sounds like its not getting enough gas, like the fuel mix ratio is not correct but yet i own a 2 stroke...
If that's a Pantera 2, you've got a great hull under you. That's a mid 60's running boat all day long with one guy. And that 45 pound thrust TM was a staple for those days. I had an '88 Skeeter with a 42 pound Motor guide.
I thought I was the only crazy one out there. I rebuilt a 97 StarCraft 190 superfisherman. Repowered with merc 115: it’s an excellent boat for the Great Lakes and new ones are just stupid expensive.
I think you did a compression test on her a while back but can’t remember for sure. You definitely want to do that before spending a bunch of money on the motor. If compression is around 110-120 and all cylinders are within about 10psi of each other, she will run. I think a fuel pump kit is in order, and you definitely want to do a water pump kit too (that has nothing to do with the motor running, but it’s a must to KEEP it running once you get it).
Motors do typically run different on muffs vs foot in the water, part of this may be due to the angle (level) of the motor in driveway vs boat in the water. I believe you have a fuel issue, and I think pulling the carbs and ensuring they are cleaned and keys are all clear is in order. Carb cleaning isn’t hard, water pump isn’t hard, and neither is fuel pump. I think you can do all this for not much over $100. I’ve been watching you and you definitely have what it takes to accomplish these tasks and you need to learn how to do them anyhow!
If compression is decent it’s worth saving the motor.
I almost forgot…. Check the foot oil to make sure it’s not full of water….You can change it later, but it would be good to know your foot isn’t shot or that may be a reason to re-think as a lower unit rebuild will be pricy.
Keep it up! You have done a nice job on this boat and have learned a lot. It’s been fun watching this! Good luck!
Those motors gt150 were the best motors Johnson ever made. I love them because they are simple. Do a vro pump delete kit. it's like 100 bucks. You can do it yourself. Very easy. Mix your own oil an gas clean your carbs. Again very easy. Check your spark on each cylinder. If you find one not firing swap the coil if the problem moves you have a bad coil. The motor is definitely worth fixing trust me I do this for a living.
I’ve got the same motor we did away with the vro fuel pump put a double stack fuel pump. Also where’s your breather cover ?
I can't stand the anticipation!!!....you can't quite on us now....you have to get it running!!!!....another good video!!!
Get a set Guitar strings and clean all the passages in the carbs plus soak in carburetor cleaner over night. Then reassemble to factory specifications. DO NOT USE 87 OCTANE GAS. USE 93+ OCTANE NON-ETHANOL GAS. Get you some Startron marine additive for your boat. Designed for any gas engine that isn't ran daily. That setup for weeks at a time. Hope this helps.
Also check out Cody Bass He has a GREAT DIY marine engine channel with great tips. 🍺🎣
Sounds like dirty low speed jets (gummed up by old fuel). Back pressure caused by having the exhaust in the water requires a richer mixture than needed to run on the hose. May need a carb rebuild.
I have the exact same motor however mine is a 1987 if I was you I would download the CDI Troubleshooting chart for the motor I would test the timing base test the stator test the power packs and the coils, definitely rebuild the carburetors. I have coils in power packs if you need them.
how old is the fuel...i forget did you clean the carbs? anyway its a start and that boat looks great on the water.
Everything is fresh! Fresh gas and Cleaned carbs
I've got a 94 ranger 175 evinrude had bad fuel lines filled with plac from ethanol gas
I've put a electric fuel pump on the line from tank to motor
Compression + fuel + spark = GOOOO. I think you showed compression at one point and it was okay. Next step you should check spark using a spark gap tester set to 7/16” gap. If spark is good you should install a proper dual fuel pump if you’re going to premix and clean the carbs with OEM rebuild kits. you have to cover all these basics with an unknown motor.
Look up the cdi troubleshooting guide for your motor it will walk you through diagnostic process on that motor. If you are using the Grey fuel line throw it in the trash the liner comes loose and stops the flow of fuel. If you haven't already done a compression test I would start there. To test the fuel pump put a hose in a regular gas jug and see if it pulls fuel.if it does check your tank vent if it is not working it will vapor lock in a sense. Check spark on all cylinders and follow the directions on the cdi troubleshooting guide and you will be running in no time. Or let me know I'll come get the motor I need a 150 lol
I don’t know where in Nebraska you live, but I’m in Kansas about 3 miles from the border. We have a lake here that you can open throttle on if your interested?
i’ve had the same experience with my old johnson 150 at the boat ramp more times then i’d like to admit 😂 they are a hag to start when cold. you definetly have a fuel issue
Good send bro. If it were me bro I'd get a new motor bro. It sounds like all cylinders aren't firing but I think you would spend more money trying to fix it versus just getting a newer one. But way to never give up dude. It's a inspiration and motivated
bow strap goes under the first roller and up to the eye --- pivots up off of the first roller
2 stroke engines require fuel, spark, and compression to run. You have all three. Now it comes down to tunning and syncing the carbs. Check the timing also....a simple timing light can be used. My bet is that the carbs are dirty and or are not tuned.
Don’t know much about how to check timing but I’ll research!
Check out Danger Marine here on RUclips. He has a lot of videos that will walk you right through almost everything on outboard motors.
Guys I bought a combo with a spinning Reel on can I attach a bait caster Reel on the same rod or it need a bait caster rod?
Thank you so much I did contact waiting for response
Rebuild all three carbs the kits are around 30$ each and only run 91 octane in it. I literally have the exact same engine and it did all of the same things. Also make 100% sure each one of the carburetor linkages are synchronized if not then it will run lean and will cause issues. I do think you need a new fule pump too. I had put an electric in line pump on mine to get it on the water at first and it got the job done until I ordered the mechanical one. Good luck those old Johnsons are picky man.
Boat is looking good. Maybe go to a boat shop and have them drop a refurbished outboard on there.
I cant remember if you did clean the carbs but if not just give them a good clean
I think the best bet is find a good guy who knows what’s wrong with it and have him look at it and listen to it
I would definitely start with the fuel pump! Then, see what else might be an issue, but I think the pump will get you running! Then maybe you can check other stuff over time.
I have a 1998 Johnson 225 Venom with a 20 inch shaft for that boat. I took off of my Stratos 201 Pro Elite bass boat with literally maybe 90 hours on it that runs like an absolute dream for sale, it would be prefect on that Bass Cat, comes with all the rigging. I am asking 6k OBO..
Boat motors act completely different under a load vs on the muffs. It sounds/acts like a fuel pump issue. But, you can rent a fuel pressure tester from O’Reillys or buy a coil tester from harbor freight for $5
Do not use anything but marine grade fuel line from a very well known brand. Gray, silver, clear are from china and they can say something is marine grade but isn't. Make sure whatever you get does NOT have an inter liner in the hose.
If that primer dosent get hard and stays pretty soft then the fuel pump diaphrams are screwed that will flood a cylinder and make it not pump enough fuel
The boat itself is rated for a 200 horse I believe. If you gotta replace it go up to a 200 for better performance you wont regret it.
I highly recommend either doing a compression test or start it and start pulling plug wires one by one. If nothing changes in terms of it running then you have a dead cylinder, if it bogs down more then that cylinder is firing. It’s definitely not running in all cylinders. As far as the mechanical fuel pump, if I’m not mistaken I believe they are vacuum operated, I could be wrong, if it is then start checking the vacuum lines if they check out my guess is the diaphragm in the pump is torn or deteriorated. If that’s the case I would go with a new fuel pump. I would highly recommend investing in a cheaper multimeter, something around the $35 mark. If you find out there are dead cylinder(s) check for spark if you can, then check the resistance of the dead cylinder plug wires, they should be some where around 2-3 kilo ohms if I had to guess. If it’s some crazy number like 15 kilo ohms or higher then replace the wires. It’s possible but rare for the coils to go out. Those are just my thoughts, hope you resolve the issue. Also one more thing, I would pull the heads off and check the gaskets, your water jacket runs around the cylinder near the head and can kill your detonation if water leaks into the cylinder because if a bad gasket. Have a good one man
Pull up the warm up lever! That’s not the choke when you pull up the lever it advances the timing!! You push in the key to choke !!! So keep it pushed In while cranking
hell there is hardly any lakes period in the state
I am currently working in the same boat with a evinrude 200. Fuel pump went out. Through an electric fuel pump and no more issued…
I would do compression tests. It sounds like all the cylinders are not firing. For the money you would have to spend before I would go to all the trouble I would check on used good motor.
Could it be just the Idle Screw being too low?
Compression test the motor and then clean the carbs change fuel pump and do a full service if the compression is good it’s a good motor
When it is running, it doesn’t sound like it’s firing on all six. Check fire on each cylinder-could be a fouled plug or a bad coil. Fuel issue as well. Like others have said, fuel pump could be bad or dirty. I have the 1990 model of that motor, when running right, she’s a beast but can be fickle when starting. I’ve gone months without running it and it will crank on the first try and I’ve had it not start on day 2 of a fishing trip.
Carbs or fuel problem more then likely. That's thing is looking good.
Pull carbs and clean them, new oils, new plugs and sell and put a 30HP on it cuz it like to see it all done !
There is more back pressure on the motor when its in the lake which makes a poor running motor worse, if you know the fuel pump is bad change it.
Power Pack. These motors go through power packs by the season
You can do it yourself. I did!, it was a 175 mercury turned up to 200hp, replaced coils, power packs reoved magneto, ect. Cleaned up carbs she would scream Boisen Reed Valves, balanced flywheel for 15000 rpm added alternator kit. Do it yourself and learn. Be patient and ask lots of questions. Those Johnson GT150 can be turned up a lot, make a stock 200 cry... It's not rocket science it's a marine engine... 🤣 🍺🎣
We have a 115 jonson and it doesn’t idle so it could be a carb thing
Definitely seems that you don’t have constant fuel, I’d say rule that out. Use a small piece of clear hose and start bypassing lines with that see through hose so you will know where you have fuel and where you don’t
Gotta be a mechanic close to you to give you a good educated guess as to where to start. Have a feeling it’s multiple issues after sitting for years. You replace plugs and wires yet?
Yes I did 😪
Go to the parts store and get regular automotive fuel line. Get a cheap electric fuel pump and try that. The water pump has nothing to do with it not running
It should not be $500 dollars to fix that. There are cheaper coils online. Look up how to ohm your oils/ test them off the boat. Also a fuel pump can be maybe $50 or less. Please don’t give up. I thought I had mine fixed and as soon as I put it on the water that happened to me. I later found out that my spark plug wires was on tight. If compression is good, don’t give up!
Could be a number of things. But there is nothing really wrong with the motor. Clean the carbs replace the full pump. Get a manual for your specific engine. Alot of good troubleshooting for that exact problem. Water pump looked fine to me. Get a manual and you will be fine.
Jordan I would like to see you get that motor going. I had a similar issue with my 85 yamy 115. Replaced the fuel pump & clean carbs and fuel system & she’s running good. But I had a mechanic do the job so if you’re up for it I’d like to see what it takes to get it going. Love the channel man!🤙🏻
Fuel, timing or fouled ignition spark. Sounded terrible at the lake. Don't give up on that motor. You'll figure it out. Boat floats and no leaks, that's great news. At this point I would just concentrate just on the motor issue. Good luck.
Don’t give up on the 150 yet!!!!
Rebuild and tune the carbs.
I don’t know how you do it but if there’s a way to contact Brandon‘s garage, he’s another RUclipsr and seems to specializes in boat motors.
He seems like a wiz on that older omc stuff.
Those old Johnson’s are workhorses and tough to kill mechanically but 1st step I would do is a proper compression check.
Then check for spark at each cylinder (coils), broken fuel lines (crappy ethanol blend f-s up everything), could also be a timing issue. Those advance arms get corroded if they sit too long.
Don’t give up though, great content.
Clean carbs, check compression. Move to an area with bigger lakes!
These motors like to have constant fuel with no air in the fuel line. I think it will be a spark or fuel issue.
Keep it up! 💯 you are doing a good job.
Thanks Carlos!
If you have bad compression you are wasting your time. If the compression is good, it is surely worth fixing, if you do it yourself. You can replace half the parts on the motor for the price of a professional going through the motor.
Next time you get it running in the driveway. Hold a rag in front of the intake to see if it is drawing in continuous or if it is pulsing in air, or not drawing at all. The reed plates in a 2 stroke need to close tight to run good. This is often why people have trouble with starting these old 2 strokes even after rebuilding the carbs. I wouldn't worry about this until you have made sure that you have good compression, spark, and fuel delivery on all cylinders. It is worth checking the draw as it will let you know if there is an issue. Good luck.
So did u check the sparkplugs? Sounds like a fuel ⛽️ issue also. I'm sure you will figure it out. Cosmetic 💄 lly you did a flicking fantastic job all the colors are nice love the seats think I missed that episode. It looks like a brand new boat. Fix the problems then christen it with a split of Asti.your italian, champagne 🍾 is pricey. Congrats pondhopper. Job well done
🌹 🍺 🎣 🚣♀️ so proud of u and your assistant rachel.
So first, auto store starting fluid is not good for two stroke motors. Sounds like fuel is your issue. Check for water in the fuel, plugged filter of fuel pump. I believe these is a filter I the pump. Could be a issue in the carbs, sticking float or plugged jets. These are common and easy to fix.
I feel like I remember you doing a compression test on the engine a while back. Knowing that you have a cylinder or two failing the compression test, it’d hard for me to invest anything into that engine without tearing it down and rebuilding it. At that age, probably not worth it. If there’s a marine mechanic around you might be able to Sweet talk them into confirming your findings with the compression. That would be the first place.
First thing I would do before spending money on the engine is a compression test, if good then check which cylinders are not firing (sounds like 1 or 2 are not) by pulling plug wires 1 by 1 to see which cylinder or cylinders plug wires being pulled change the rpm while running. Then I would check condition of plugs on the bad cylinders and check for spark on those. Then I would clean the carbs next if spark and compression is all good
If good spark and compression. Def either starving for fuel or getting flooded. It doesn't run long enough to get a visual on either or
I thought this dude already did a compression test on the cylinders. Also that is the stupidest fucking way to test your coils.
I rigged up an electric fuel pump off amazon on my 150. flick it on when you get ready to crank and run and it keeps constant fuel going to
the pump and carbs.
I would check the idle adjust if needed when in water pulling from water from lake is different from water hose to the lower unit due to motor having to pull water instead of getting push in. For a 2 stroke motor seems to sound like it’s idling really low. What I also would try is when you get it fire up in the water like that keep it idle for a bit see if will warm up the motor
Also take a fuel just mix it and run it straight off the jug. It really sound like it has bad fuel
If it doesn’t end up working i thing you should get a mercury 150 pro XS.
Is this real or is the same thing happening to your channel that is happening to Edwin Evers channel. He is being hacked.
Check compression