89 Johnson 140 vro not revving

[thebottomfish]

Hey guys,

Took out the v for the first time this season, not thrilled.
I backed it down the ramp got it started, it sounded for lack of a better term, very soft and quiet. When I went to reverse out of the dock it had no power, then when I got it into open water,(50 ft away) throttle pinned at WOT the boat was seeing 7mph per my gps.
My problem is that I don't have a tach, so I can't know what rpm it was turning, but again it was very quiet, I'd say maybe 2k rpm if not less.
What could be the problem?
Spark plugs new, carbs clean, new fuel bulb, fuel filter and water separator filter. Started it on muffs in my driveway last weekend and it started, sounded and ran perfect.
But of course I didn't rev it on the muffs.

Any ideas where to start?

Thanks in advance

-garret

[phatdaddy]

check fire on all cylinders

[THEFERMANATOR]

Also make sure ALL your throttle linkage is moving freely, ESPESCIALLY the timing linkage up under the flywheel. If the timing is stuck at idle setting, it will do everything you describe.

[spareparts]

Originally Posted by THEFERMANATOR

Also make sure ALL your throttle linkage is moving freely, ESPESCIALLY the timing linkage up under the flywheel. If the timing is stuck at idle setting, it will do everything you describe.

what he said plus do compression test and spark check. Look at you plugs real close, if they are carboned up, decarb the cylinders with some Mercury Powertune

[thebottomfish]

Well I found two things today both relatively easy fixes.
Two of my spark plug wires we're chewed right at the boot so it caused an intermittent misfire, explaining the lack of power.
Other issue is that the throttle cable seems out of whack, looks like it only opens the butterflies about 1/3 of the way open. So they were only opening to about the 2k mark.
Tried to adjust it from the engine side but I can't get complete range of motion, it's either closed at idle and opens to about half way, or slightly open at idle and almost all the way open with the throttle pinned.
Should I mess with the adjustments at the control box or just expect to replace the cable?
Did compression test, great numbers, spark test is where I realized the wire issue.
Thanks for the advice so far!

[smokeonthewater]

You ARE operating the throttle with the main lever and not the warmup lever right?

[thebottomfish]

Originally Posted by smokeonthewater

You ARE operating the throttle with the main lever and not the warmup lever right?

By warm up lever I assume you mean the fast idle lever that I lift up when cold and then push back in after a minute or so correct?
I am getting the above mentioned range of throttle opening when i put the boat in gear and push the throttle control handle all the way forward...the lever I believe you are referencing I don't see any movement at the throttle linkage engine side

[smokeonthewater]

Ok just wanted to make sure... The warm up lever also moves the throttle cable but wouldn't give you full range

Sounds like you either have a bunch of slop or something broken or assembled wrong.

[thebottomfish]

Considering it was fine last year before putting her away for the winter, I'll assume something is broken as I haven't touched any aspect of the throttle adjustment until this issue arose.
Thanks for the help I'll let you guys know the verdict!

[phatdaddy]

i wouldn't start adjusting any cables till i tried it with proper fire on all cyl.