Nice work buddy! Sounds great and that little 4hp is really humming along. That engine will last a long time with basic maintenance. Keep the gear lube clean and keep after the cooling system. You were wise to clean the internal cooling passages, they are pretty small on that engine and plug easily with salt water. Remove the gearcase annually to clean and relube the driveshaft splines also, they like to rust and get stuck in the crankshaft on that series of engines. Be sure to replace the upper driveshaft oring and lubricate the driveshaft splines with the "moly lube" supplied in the water pump kit. The beauty of this engine is that the gearcase pops on and off so easily doing the extra salt water servicing annually only takes a few minutes! Be gentle with that side mount recoil starter, they are kind of delicate and a pain to repair. Don't ever let go of the recoil rope accidentally, the spring will probably get damaged.
It's been at least 5 years since you posted this video so, I hope you still monitor it and are able and willing to answer my question. I recently purchased a small 12 ft boat that included a 1990 Johnson 4 horse 2-stroke. I've replaced with new the ignition coils spark plugs and lower unit fluid. I successfully started it yesterday. My question is, what are the functions of the two dial controls on the front of the motor and how are they used?
Cheers Thomas 🍻 I have always been very impressed with the little twin cylinder 4hp and 6hp Johnson and evinrude, so smooth and idle down to nearly stopped 😂 All the best 👌 Aussie Boat Guy 😎
Hey mate, Those motors should idle perfectly. -It could be that the idle is set too low (there should be a twist knob on the end of your tiller that you can screw in clockwise once you raise the throttle slightly, that increases the low idle speed) keep in mind you don’t want the low idle to fast, hopefully just that. -Could also be the low speed mixture setting on the carburetor. -Also may need a carburetor overhaul (it may have a tiny piece of junk in the low speed idle jet). I would start with raising the idle speed. Is it just when you return the twist grip all the way back? Can you maintain a good idle with the twist grip slightly increased? If so it should just be the idle speed adjustment. Cheers, Glenno
Are you sure you don't have an 8 HP under that cover? I've never seen a 4 HP run like that. It even sounds throatier than a 4. I hope mine ends up running like that !
😂 yep she is only a 4hp 👍. Pretty nice running little motors, twin cylinder and only 86cc. The 6 and 8hp versions are 164cc, they do have a lot more torque. I really like that 4hp, the block design originates from the 3hp Johnson and evinrude motors from the mid 50s, used up until that 4hp in my video. No reason why your one won’t run as sweet, cheers 🍻
@@25hpboatracerman Mine's a 1981 4 1/2. I'm just going through it. It was given to me several years ago and I'm just getting around to it. It has even compression. It had the wrong plugs in it. I have a 4 HP weedless that would probably only do 10. It definitely won't plain out on my Alumacraft FD.
@@johnweber6147 Yep the 4.5hp is the same, awesome little motors. I’ve owned a few of the weedless models as well, very similar block but the lower unit is very different. The weedless motors have the propeller thrust facing downwards a fair bit which definitely takes away from top end speed. Keep me posted on your 4.5hp mate, I am keen to see your thoughts compared to the weedless models. Cheers 🍻
Nice work buddy! Sounds great and that little 4hp is really humming along. That engine will last a long time with basic maintenance. Keep the gear lube clean and keep after the cooling system. You were wise to clean the internal cooling passages, they are pretty small on that engine and plug easily with salt water. Remove the gearcase annually to clean and relube the driveshaft splines also, they like to rust and get stuck in the crankshaft on that series of engines. Be sure to replace the upper driveshaft oring and lubricate the driveshaft splines with the "moly lube" supplied in the water pump kit. The beauty of this engine is that the gearcase pops on and off so easily doing the extra salt water servicing annually only takes a few minutes! Be gentle with that side mount recoil starter, they are kind of delicate and a pain to repair. Don't ever let go of the recoil rope accidentally, the spring will probably get damaged.
where do you get that GPS from?
These Johnson/Evinrude's are very nice sounding motors; quiet, and easy starting. What year is your motor?
It's been at least 5 years since you posted this video so, I hope you still monitor it and are able and willing to answer my question.
I recently purchased a small 12 ft boat that included a 1990 Johnson 4 horse 2-stroke. I've replaced with new the ignition coils spark plugs and lower unit fluid. I successfully started it yesterday.
My question is, what are the functions of the two dial controls on the front of the motor and how are they used?
Hi Mate,
The dial in the middle is the high speed mixture screw, the dial on the left from memory is the fuel on off.
cheers 🍻
Aussie Boat Guy 😎
I had the same tinny with a Yamaha 8hp 2001 it zipped along with an 8
Thats good shit!
Cheers Thomas 🍻
I have always been very impressed with the little twin cylinder 4hp and 6hp Johnson and evinrude, so smooth and idle down to nearly stopped 😂
All the best 👌
Aussie Boat Guy 😎
Hey I have the same motor. I'm having issues with it not idling properly when in neutral or foward. Any reasons?
Hey mate,
Those motors should idle perfectly.
-It could be that the idle is set too low (there should be a twist knob on the end of your tiller that you can screw in clockwise once you raise the throttle slightly, that increases the low idle speed) keep in mind you don’t want the low idle to fast, hopefully just that.
-Could also be the low speed mixture setting on the carburetor.
-Also may need a carburetor overhaul (it may have a tiny piece of junk in the low speed idle jet).
I would start with raising the idle speed.
Is it just when you return the twist grip all the way back? Can you maintain a good idle with the twist grip slightly increased? If so it should just be the idle speed adjustment.
Cheers,
Glenno
I have the same. What year is it?
I think it’s late 80s.
Very smooth runner.
Cheers
is that 2 or 4 stroke?
2 stroke.
Are you sure you don't have an 8 HP under that cover? I've never seen a 4 HP run like that. It even sounds throatier than a 4. I hope mine ends up running like that !
😂 yep she is only a 4hp 👍.
Pretty nice running little motors, twin cylinder and only 86cc. The 6 and 8hp versions are 164cc, they do have a lot more torque.
I really like that 4hp, the block design originates from the 3hp Johnson and evinrude motors from the mid 50s, used up until that 4hp in my video.
No reason why your one won’t run as sweet, cheers 🍻
@@25hpboatracerman Mine's a 1981 4 1/2. I'm just going through it. It was given to me several years ago and I'm just getting around to it. It has even compression. It had the wrong plugs in it. I have a 4 HP weedless that would probably only do 10. It definitely won't plain out on my Alumacraft FD.
@@johnweber6147
Yep the 4.5hp is the same, awesome little motors. I’ve owned a few of the weedless models as well, very similar block but the lower unit is very different. The weedless motors have the propeller thrust facing downwards a fair bit which definitely takes away from top end speed.
Keep me posted on your 4.5hp mate, I am keen to see your thoughts compared to the weedless models.
Cheers 🍻