johnson 9.9 repair or buy another one?

stephenbarns · #1 (**permalink**) 12-14-2009

I have problems with my 1981 johnson 9.9 outboard not long after I bought my Cat22.

The First isssue was that it would turn over but not start at all.

I opened the air intake and removed a dirt dobber nest and it started, so i went out to test drive.

It ran for about an hour off an on , and then it would die and require adjusting the chock more and more in order to start until finally it would not start at all.

I got the carb cleaned and went out again. It purred like a kitten for about an hour off and on, and then had the same issue with the motor dying and requireing heavy choke manipulation until it would not start at all.

I am not sure if I should take it in to another repair shop before spring or just buy a new outboard. I would rather have this one fixed if possible , but I don't want to throw more money at it only to have to buy a new one anyway.

scottyt · #2 (**permalink**) 12-14-2009

first question how old is the fuel, second one does it have a fuel filter?

tommays · #3 (**permalink**) 12-14-2009

fresh or saltwater

If freshwater it "should" be in very good shape If saltwater there can be issues with taking it apart to do small repiars that would make it more of and issue

stephenbarns · #4 (**permalink**) 12-14-2009

It is freshwater , the fuel is brand new, I don't know if it has a fuel filter

tager · #5 (**permalink**) 12-14-2009

What is your location? I will buy the broken one if you are trying to get rid of it.

stephenbarns · #6 (**permalink**) 12-14-2009

I am in arkansas , not to the point that I am trying to sell it yet , but everything is for sale at the right price.

tommays · #7 (**permalink**) 12-14-2009

A picture would help but its very rare for a freshwater motor to have issues that cant be repiared unless it was really abused.

It sounds like a fuel issue and what you can do is squeze the bulb when it starts to conk out to see if that helps as the fuel pumps do were out

The carb really needs to be taken apart and soaked in cleaner to get rid of 30 years of dirt

stephenbarns · #8 (**permalink**) 12-14-2009

Thanks Tommays I will take it in for repairs before the spring.

btrayfors · #9 (**permalink**) 12-14-2009

Very likely a fuel problem. These things have TINY little holes for the idling jet, and miniscule pieces of debris will clog them. Clean the tank, be sure you have new fuel, clean or replace the fuel filter (it almost certainly has one), be sure you're getting fuel thru the hose (replace it if necessary and put a nice little fuel filter in-line so you can see it).

Bill

GaryHLucas · #10 (**permalink**) 12-14-2009

If the choke makes it run then it has to be a fuel problem. Can't be an air problem, the choke would kill it. Can't be spark, it runs. Putting the choke on creates a vacuum which pulls more fuel through the jet. So look at fuel tank strainer, fuel bulb, fuel hose, fuel filter, and the carb.

Gary H. Lucas