FinS Posted May 25, 2008 Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 i have a mid 80's 20hp johnson that i started having issues with 1- it takes 10 pulls or more to start what could i do to make it better to like start on the 1st or 2nd pull ive changed the plugs 2- when full throttle the motor always wants to go left so no letting go there or ill be doing doughnuts which aint to safe anyinput on these problems would be great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lew Posted May 25, 2008 Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 (edited) Getting the motor to run straight is an easy fix. Under the skeg and just above the prop, you'll see a small fin that's adjustable to take the torque off your sterring. Just loosen the bolt and turn the fin slightly in the opposite direction the motor is pulling then re-tighten the bold and give it a test drive. Just do it a couple degrees at a time until you get it where you want it. Edited May 25, 2008 by lew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinker Posted May 25, 2008 Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 What Lew said will get it running straight. Have you ever ran anything thru the motor to de-carbon it? I'd get some seafoam and run it thru the motor. It will clear a lot of the carbon build up out, and make it run smoother. Should help with the hard to start problem. Mercury power tuner does the same thing, and I find it easier to get. Just be prepared for a ton of smoke when you do it. If you've never de-carbed it before, she'll be smoking like 90!! Sinker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinS Posted May 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 (edited) thanks for the info guys Edited May 25, 2008 by FinS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2 tone z71 Posted May 25, 2008 Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 Tuner will definatly help pull the plugs check compression,then go thru the carbs thats what it sounds like to me a fuel issue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boatman Posted May 26, 2008 Report Share Posted May 26, 2008 I don't think you will find the fin Lew mentioned on a mid 1980's Johnson 20 hp. You need to tighten the steering. Should be a bolt or screw in the round steering tube of the midsection. Unfortunately, I'm away from home so I don't have access to my mid 1980's Johnson's or service manuals tom tell you exactly where it is. If the engine runs ok once its started then you have either border line compression or a fuel issue. 10 pulls suggests a fuel issue. You probably need to rebuild the carb. When was it last running well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glen Posted May 26, 2008 Report Share Posted May 26, 2008 I put a new fuel hose on my old motor and she ran good after that. After 20 or 30 years its good to get a new hose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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