Gotta be the carbs, right?

Since last summer, the 1996 Johnson 112VR was a little sluggish out of the hole, and would conk out on me, but would always re-start. From timeto time, the bulb would deflate, but if it stayed hard the motor ran fine.

Anyhow, when I put it up last October, it wouldn’t turn over at all. Yesterday, I got it to run on the ear muffs, as long as I kept the choke pushed in. After 30-45 seconds, even with the choke in, it would eventually die.

I’ve had this boat since 2001 and have never re-built the carbs. The fuel pump, bulb and gas lines, and the fuel separator are all new. Does this sound like a carb problem? Thanks.

Yep, sounds like the floats are stuck and either flooding or starving your engine. You probably need somebody to clean those carbs.

'06 Mckee Craft
184 Marathon
DF140 Suzuki

I had a sim issue one time on a boat with a in hull gas tank. It was the anti-siphon valve on teh top of the tank. It prevents a fire from traveling the fuel line back into the tank. The ball valve inside the anti-siphon valve would get stuck & just kept getting worse & worse. I took it off & knocked the ball out with a screw driver & hammer & no more problesm so then I replaced it, $5 or so. Might work…

Well, it was the carbs. We rebuilt them today and the Johnson is running like a top. It wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it might be.

It was my first time removing carbs from an outboard, and I was pretty intimidated with the whole prospect of it, but we got through it with no glitches.

I can spend my repair money on gas instead!

Sammie