V4 Johnson drops cylinder at idle

[Inline Six]

Looking for some advice one where to start, I have a V4 Johnson mid 90's and it runs great everywhere but idle. If you come off plane it idles well for a bit then it seems to drop a cylinder. Seems like an electrical problem as it kind of sounds like there is something arcing when it looses a cylinder. Sometimes it seems like the engine has erratic spark and other times it losses the cylinder all together. Should I try swapping coils or does it sound like something else?

I don't think its a carb issue as it runs great sometimes and is more of an intermittent problem. When the motor dies at idle after loosing a cylinder the ball isn't soft and if you let it sit for a while and fire it up again it idles great on all 4 cylinders.

[jacklake2003]

If you have a timing light, clip it on while it's running and see if you have spark. If you do, one of the carbs may be out of adjustment or dirty. Good luck.

[Riverman]

Also a chance it could be the timer base. Crossflow or looper?

[Inline Six]

Ok I will try that, I was thinking of pulling the carbs and doing them anyways just to rule it out. It is a 1995 90 degree 130, looper I think?

How do you check the timer base besides replacing it?

[Riverman]

Don't know the loopers at all, but I did all the tests you could do on mine (crossflow) and it tested fine but turned out to be bad. I'd start with the carbs, easy to see if something is wrong there.

[ChrisCarsonMarine]

if you hear an arc or click when it looses the cylinder i would think a spark is jumping out of insulation somewhere,or spark plug flashover.Start it at night and look for the spark leak,chris

[Inline Six]

I think I will have to try that again, the problem was I was looking at the motor when running and when we got it back to land and it was dark I fired it up and tried to see if I could find the spark jumping. Thanks guys I will try this stuff and see where I get.

[David]

Are you around this weekend? This summer evaporated.

[Inline Six]

Yes I am, you should come try the prop if you have time.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Also you may have some reeds leaking and at idle they allow it to spit out the carbs and sound like an arc.

[Bruster]

Go to http://www.cdielectronics.com/downloads/troubleshooting%20guide/ and look at the electrical troubleshooting information for your motor.

[audiobill5]

Hi,
Is a DVA the same as a Digital volt meter (DVM)?
thanks