Help - Motor wont idle!

[west98671]

Sorry if this is a really basic/common problem, but I am new to boat ownership and dont know much about motors.

I have a '96 15 horse 2 stroke Johnson outboard that will not idle. I fire it up and give it gas, but if I throttle down to idle or even a little above idle, it dies. I warm it up for a long time too...

Any suggestions on what might be wrong?

Thanks so much for any help!

[Boat Doc']

If spark and compression are ok I would guess the carb needs cleaning

[Chrome Bumper]

Did you drain the carb? It could be water in the bowl.

[fishkisser]

Could just be that the idle screw backed out a little ...

[Cap'n Ron]

Originally Posted by west98671

Sorry if this is a really basic/common problem, but I am new to boat ownership and dont know much about motors.

I have a '96 15 horse 2 stroke Johnson outboard that will not idle. I fire it up and give it gas, but if I throttle down to idle or even a little above idle, it dies. I warm it up for a long time too...

Any suggestions on what might be wrong?

Thanks so much for any help!

Sounds like a plugged low-idle jet in the carb. If it sat with gas in the carb for a long period of time you could almost bet on it.

[west98671]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone - I'll check the carb.

[Gopher]

I have the same vintage Johnson in same HP which had the same problem. It was just dirt in the low speed jet and easily disassembled and cleaned. Good luck - it is a good engine