Video of the 1976 35HP Johnson

Here's a link to a youtube video of this motor:
https://youtu.be/ZQFvn4JcWJ8

If you didn't manually clean the HS jet yet with a piece of wire so that it compares with new, do so as fuel must flow through that jet before it flows anywhere else.

Yes, I've had the high speed jet out and cleaned the parts really well. I look in the HS jet bore with an endoscope and ever thing looks fine.

With "all" spark plugs removed on both tests..................

What are the compression psi readings of both cylinders?

The spark should jump a 3/8" gap with a strong blue lightning like flame... a real SNAP! Does it?

Adjust the carburetor as follows:
******************
(Carburetor Adjustment - Single S/S Adjustable Needle Valve)
(J. Reeves)

Initial setting is: Slow speed = seat gently, then open 1-1/2 turns.

Start engine and set the rpms to where it just stays running. In segments of 1/8 turns, start to turn the S/S needle valve in. Wait a few seconds for the engine to respond. As you turn the valve in, the rpms will increase. Lower the rpms again to where the engine will just stay running.

Eventually you'll hit the point where the engine wants to die out or it will spit back (sounds like a mild backfire). At that point, back out the valve 1/4 turn. Within that 1/4 turn, you'll find the smoothest slow speed setting.

When you have finished the above adjustment, you will have no reason to move them again unless the carburetor fouls/gums up from sitting, in which case you would be required to remove, clean, and rebuild the carburetor anyway.

Thousands of parts in my remaining stock. Not able to list them all. Let me know what you need and I'll look it up for you. Visit my eBay auction at:

joe_omc32 | eBay
***********************

Thanks Joe. The compression is 118 and 120 and have a good strong spark.
I have attempted a similar procedure starting at 1 5/8 turns on the SS needle. The problem has been that it coughs and jumps while trying to start it and take many many attempts to start. When it finally starts, the slowest it will run is about 1500 rpms (estimated by sound). I'll give it another attempt.

Compression is okay.

I a$$ume that the mention of "a good strong spark" means that it is jumping at least a 3/8" gap with a strong blue flaming SNAP!.... NOT just jumping across a spark plug gap?

The "cough and jumps while trying to start it" mention..... Has the flywheel been off recently, and if so, was the flywheel nut torqued down to it's factory specifications? If not torqued down, in all probability, the flywheel key is sheared which throws the engine out of time. Actually, the key being sheared even ever so slightly should prevent the engine from starting at all.

Also, the points may be dirty and/or set wrong... see the following.

(Point Setting Of Magneto Models)
(J. Reeves)

Note that there are other ways to set points such as using a ohm meter or timing light... however, the following will result in a setting so close to being exact that one could not tell the difference.

Make sure that your feeler gauge is absolutely clean so as NOT to transfer oil/grease to the points.

Set the points as follows. Have the flywheel key aligned with the fiber rubbing portion of the ignition points. Adjust the gap so that a .020 gauge will pass thru but a .022 will not. Should there be any question of the points being dirty (touching the contact with your finger would cause them to be dirty), clean them with a small brush and acetone or lacquer thinner.

NOTE 1: Should the operating cam have a small portion on it with the word "SET" imprinted, align this portion with the fiber rubbing portion instead of the flywheel key.

NOTE 2: Should the cam have the word TOP embossed on the top of it, that is a cam that could be installed upside down and this is simply telling you which side is up. It is not a position where one would set the points.

Thousands of parts in my remaining stock. Not able to list them all. Let me know what you need and I'll look it up for you. Visit my eBay auction at:

joe_omc32 | eBay
********************

Thanks for the tips Joe. My spark checker is set at 7/16th and it jumps that just fine. I have had the flywheel off several times. The key and keyway look fine. The points, condenser, coil packs and spark plugs are new. When it is running the timing seems to be spot on. It runs great at mid to full throttle. I adjusted the low speed needle as you suggested starting at 1 1/2 turns out. Adjusted 1/8th in at a time down to 1/2 out when it died. Went the other way to 2 1/2 turns out when it died. During all that adjusting, the motor ran about the same till it died.

I would pull my hair out but I don't have any.