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Advice operating 2 hp Johnson SeaHorse

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/05/2010 : 07:02:33

Wow, are we spoiled! Push the button on the Yamaha 9.9 and go . . .

Just received our dinghy motor back from a very reputable Johnson dealer. Used it yesterday for the first time. Placed the levers, dials in the logical positions and got it started. Tried adjusting the dials to increase rpms and it would stall. Had to leave the choke pulled all the way out (even after warm-up) or it would stall. Basically only one speed setting would work - and that was at a fairly low RPM.

Any thoughts? advice?

Edited by - OJ on 09/05/2010 07:03:43

jbkayaker
Captain

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USA
299 Posts

Response Posted - 09/05/2010 : 08:22:57

Did you use old fuel ? Have you been using fuel containing ethanol ? Do you have fuel lines approved for ethanol ? What fuel stabilizer, if any, did you put in the gasoline ?

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 09/05/2010 : 11:17:54

Carb may be set wrong. Use fresh fuel. Take it back to the shop and have them tank test it in your presence.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9087 Posts

Response Posted - 09/05/2010 : 12:19:09

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by OJ
 ...Just received our dinghy motor back from a very reputable Johnson dealer...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Oh... Really... Or maybe not.

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 09/06/2010 : 07:20:36

The dealer that performed the thorough maintenance on this motor is family owned - in business for decades. The patriarch is a walking encyclopedia on marine engines. The fuel that was in the tank was from his shop. You can't find ethanol free fuel in SW PA. He replaced all of the fuel lines and installed a see-thru fuel filter. For the moment I have to trust the dealer did all the right things.
I mentioned these issues at West Marine yesterday and the manager said people with 2-stroke motors are pulling their hair out with ethanol fuel. He recommended StarTron which I will try after the fuel from the repair shop is used up. I've talked with others at the lake yesterday and I heard all kinds of stories about small jets of small outboards clogging easily, removing carbureators, dumping in cans of Gummout. After using the Yamaha 9.9 4-stroke I'm simply too spoiled to deal a finicky 2-stroke.
Right now I have so little confidence in this motor that I will never use it in some remote place. It is so unforgiving that it won't even run long enough to allow you to adjust the settings. I can't even sell it in good conscience. It isn't even heavy enough to make a good anchor!

During the interim, I'm scoping out 4-strokes. Any one here own a Honda 2 hp 4-stroke?

Edited by - OJ on 09/06/2010 09:24:59

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 09/06/2010 : 07:47:15

The Sea Horse outboards are pretty durable engines. Before giving up on it why not take it back to the repair shop, tell them what happened, and have them check it out. They should stand behind their work.

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jbkayaker
Captain

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USA
299 Posts

Response Posted - 09/06/2010 : 09:19:18

A few years ago I took my Grumman AA5 airplane to a licensed mechanic with a reputation for being the best. The bill for the annual inspection just floored me too. Anyway a few hours later the oil filter started unscrewing from vibration. The filter was safety wired backwards so it could not vibrate tighter. Even the best mechanics can screw-up.

I wouldn't attribute the problem to the engine being a two stroke. After all the carburetor is essentially identical on a four stroke. If there is a fuel injected engine available that might be worth switching to.

Edited by - on

vholmstrom
1st Mate

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USA
51 Posts

Response Posted - 09/06/2010 : 10:57:35

I had a Honda BF2 on my Hobie Getaway. I just used it to get in and out of a long canal. It had the following advantages:

-only weighed 28 lbs

-pushed the Getaway to canal speeds at less than half throttle

-air cooled, so no flushing

-would run over an hour on the quart sized fuel tank

-had a place on the side to check oil level without removing a dip stick

It had no F/N/R gear shift, but had a slip clutch so the prop would not spin at idle. It was a little louder than water cooled engines. I had no engine problems or fuel problems with Florida's ethanol fuel, but I always use Startron and fresh fuel (cheap insurance). Yes, if I needed a 2HP outboard, I would but this model again.

Hope this helps,
Vic

Edited by - vholmstrom on 09/06/2010 11:15:02

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9087 Posts

Response Posted - 09/06/2010 : 12:23:11

I also have a Honda 2 and agree with what Vic says... A bit noisy (air cooling), maybe better reliability because of no water cooling, centrifugal clutch can be a little perplexing--you have to find the throttle setting where you can start it without the clutch immediately engaging. 360 steering replaces a reverse gear.

A friend bought the new Suzuki 2.5 4-stroke, which is only a few pounds heavier, is water cooled--therefore a little quieter--and has a F-N shift (with 360 turning).

These two are in a class by themselves based on weight.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 09/06/2010 : 17:41:13

Go back to the shop and have them run through the settings and process with you to see if it repeats or find out what you were doing wrong. Old 2 strokers are still around because the are the most durable engines made. All moving parts are thoroughly lubricated by the fuel/oil mist, the carb is simple, and they are low compression. The old engines (I used a 1951 Johnson 2.5 for decades, rebuilt it, and it is still running two decades later.) Finding and remembering the correct settings can be troublesome, but it means there are no automatic systems to fail.

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Chris Z
Captain

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452 Posts

Response Posted - 09/06/2010 : 21:12:23

OJ,

I looked for your email and couldn't find it. Send me an email if you still have mine. I went through this same issue and can give you the details on what to consider and the best way to get it running right.

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 09/07/2010 : 05:58:26

I agree with Dave5041. These 2 strokes are reliable simple little motors and I've heard that the 4 strokes have much more probs with the ethanol, not the 2 strokes. I'm sure if you take the motor back to your mechanic he'll have it good in a few minutes.

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 09/07/2010 : 07:46:29

All good information and advice . . . I will give this motor and mechanic another try.

Now I'm realizing you can't put a fuel/water separator filter on a motor with an on-board fuel tank!

Edited by - OJ on 09/07/2010 07:47:36

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.