1978 johnson 175 Chugging

[wvubass]

Having problems with my motor. It doesn't like to start with the motor in the down position just cranks and cranks. If i take the prop most of the way out of the water it will start almost immediately. I obviously immediately put it right in the water after it starts. But the big problem I have is that after the motor warms up a bit it starts to chug as in it starts losing power then gaining it back until it finally gets off plane and wont go back up. After this happened i tried to prim it and noted that some gas was leaking out around the gaskets that connect the intakes to the carburetors. Any ideas?. I did just replace the water pump though I dont know it that would have anything to do with it. Any help would be appreciated.

[juanjuice]

sounds like your gaskets are old and worn out with a motor that old you might need a major tune up new fuel hoses, check valves,reeds checked bad or broken reeds will make it cough ,also new check valve lines. do a compression check also and get somemerc or jhonson power tune and decarb your motor

[ChampioNman]

Won't crank in the the H20 huh? Sounds like power pack issues. Reason it won't start in the water is because of back pressure of the water and you are only hitting on 3 of 6 pistons. Trim it up to clear the prop from the back pressure and it starts. Excess fuel is from choking the snot out of it trying to get it to fire. Install a new pair of packs and you should be good to go. Pull the old plugs out and heat them up with a torch to burn off the excess fuel or just replace them with new L77Jc4's.