Okay I'm looking for some info here, I just bought a 80's model Johnson 6hp outboard last week. I used it last friday and saturday all day with no problems. But sunday afternoon it quit running wide open in forward. I can put it in neutral or reverse and it will rev up just fine, but when its in forward it just goes above idle. I smell gas and it doesnt sound right. The carb is clean, plugs are good, linkages all seem fine. I've asked a guy who has a little more outboard experience than me and he told me to check the points, I've done some researching on them but I've never messed with points before, anybody have any info or input on this. Thanks

 

I would check the lower unit gear case for lubricant contamination.It sounds like a mechanical problem.Ron G

 

I had this same problem with an older outboard I had back in the 80's. I finally found a fuel filter that was a wire mesh filter on the side of the motor close to the carbs where the fuel entered that was clogged up. Once I took it out and cleaned it up it worked fine after that.

 

Points are located under the fly wheel where the pull cord is.
One of a few things.
Fuel pump is bad/ filter, (little black thing where fuel line goes into at back of motor)
Carb float is stuck, worn or fuel saturated
Magneto is shot, These will die over time, and will cause a lack of power situation just as you have explained. I replaced every fuel part, points on my 9.5 to only find out that one of the magnetos was bad and would die off at full throttle.

Hoep that helps a bit.

 

i would check for possible contaminated fuel and fuel screens/filters.

chekcing the points is fairly simple. pull the flywheel off. careful as they are cast aluminum usually and brake fairly easy. im not 100% sure on the clearence you are supposed to have on the points for that engine but generally the old rule of thumb is the thickness of a ciggarete pack paper. check for any burn marks. u can clean them up with a piece of sand paper but while youare in there you are better off just changing them.

make sure you torque the flywheel back on to proper specks or you will brake the woodruff keys.

too tight and you can crack the flywheel.

 

I'll pull the flywheel off and check the points first I think, it says they are supposed to be at .020" Thanks