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55 HP Johnson 2 Stroke Outbaord Starting Issue

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AlaskaJon

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Every hunter’s worst nightmare, I was hunting on an island (in Alaska) and came out of the cabin to find my boat sunk. It has some issues with leaks, but I’m guessing a sealion tried to jump inside of it. Anyway, not the issue.

My engine obviously was underwater for a few hours, filled up with seawater, and now I’m having issues. I got the boat home, thanks to a friend pulling me to the harbor, and took the engine apart. I have:

Clean out the carbs
Removed the head and cleaned out the cylinders
Changed sparkplugs
Replaced pullcord spring and cleaned all old gunk out of rewind area
Replaced fuel in tank
Cleaned out fuel lines on engine

I checked for spark, and I have it.

My most recent issues is this. My flywheel locks up if I leave it sit for a few days, guessing it’s because the cylinders are dry, but once I break everything lose, I can pull the cord just fine with the spark plugs off, but once they’re put back in, I get these jerks while pulling. I checked, and it seems like it does it in t he same spot in the cylinder progression. It’s a 2 stroke, two cylinder, and it seems that every time the top cylinder is at TDC, so the bottom is at BDC, it has so much compression in the cylinder that it stops me from being able to pull much more. I can power it through, but it makes the engine jerk and it’s not smooth, by any stretch of the imagination. I’ve replaced a lot of parts on this engine, and want to turn now to you all so I can get down to the issue.

Here’s what I’m thinking: could there be something in the exhaust that’s clogging it, making that part of the stroke build up pressure on the cylinder and causing the ‘hesitation’ I’m experiencing?

Like I said, spark plugs out, no issue. When I put one spark plug in it isn’t as bad as with both, but it’s still not smooth. Both spark plugs, I don’t think I could get a smooth enough pull to get it started.

Anythoughts? Also, I’m no professional mechanic, I don’t have a lot of equipment to do this, so explain things simply if you can.

This is my engine: http://www.crowleymarine.com/johnson-evinrude/8664.cfm?mdl=ZRJLEL&q=j55RWLC
 
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The hard truth is that once the air/oxygen hits the internal parts of the engine (Crankshaft, rod bearings, wrist pins etc)... rusting begins immediately and the engine must be running within a matter of a few hours.

One spark plug installed = pulls over okay...... Either cylinder? If so, there shouldn't be a compression problem.

Did you have the flywheel off and the components removed from the armature plate? If so, double check the alignment of the components as below.

(Components, Drivers Alignment)
(J. Reeves)

To align the components properly, have the vertical portion of the components aligned with the inside edge of the bevel that exists on the top portion of the aluminum seat upon which they sit. This creates the proper distance between the coils and the flywheel magnets. Faulty alignment creates friction.
 
Flywheel locking up after a few days is a sure sign that water is on the bearings.---Bearings are not working properly as they are corroded !! -Sadly you may get it running now but it is too late.----Motor must be running within a few hrs of recovery !!
 
The "jerking" could just be the compression strokes. However all that is moot because by your admission it has set for "a few days" at a time. The motor is junk.
 
fdrgator said:
The "jerking" could just be the compression strokes. However all that is moot because by your admission it has set for "a few days" at a time. The motor is junk.
Click to expand...

Gator does have a way with words sometimes.:rolleyes:.... I fear he is correct.
 
joereeves said:
The hard truth is that once the air/oxygen hits the internal parts of the engine (Crankshaft, rod bearings, wrist pins etc)... rusting begins immediately and the engine must be running within a matter of a few hours.

One spark plug installed = pulls over okay...... Either cylinder? If so, there shouldn't be a compression problem.

Did you have the flywheel off and the components removed from the armature plate? If so, double check the alignment of the components as below.

(Components, Drivers Alignment)
(J. Reeves)

To align the components properly, have the vertical portion of the components aligned with the inside edge of the bevel that exists on the top portion of the aluminum seat upon which they sit. This creates the proper distance between the coils and the flywheel magnets. Faulty alignment creates friction.
Click to expand...

Yeah, either spark plug. With both them out, spins justfine, either in, and it gets hard, both in, very hard. Even with both inthough, it will have parts of the pull where it’s fine. For example, my pullcord might be 4 feet long, I will get one foot in just fine, hit a wall, pullthrough it for another foot, hit another wall..
 
The original sinking happened about two months ago. If I let the engine sit for a while, it will be hard to get turning again, but not impossible. Guessing you're probably right, but I just got about $300 worth of parts for it and want to try everything I can to get it going. Hard to give up on engines...
 
Your description screams out that you are feeling the compression strokes. But that doesn't change the prognosis. Sorry to be so blunt, but it is time to give up on it.
 
I'm old and stubborn and have never had an engine beat me yet. I myself would keep at it until I knew what the exact problem was JMO !!
 
Unfortunately, the motor should have been bathed in lubricant and running asap. Really once the engine has been sunk it will more than likely have issues in the future. The corrosion would have started immediately as soon as it was lifted from the water. It would have been better to re-sink the engine in fresh water until you were certain you knew how to get it running as this would have prevented a lot of that initial corrosion. The bearings are probably buggered to be honest and that will make turning her over much harder.

I think what I am trying to say is that it is more than likely game over for the engine unless you are prepared to spend a lot on it. It is probably fair to say it's beyond economical repair.
 
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