Topic: 1986 Johnson 120 hp V4 – lost my straw – Antique Outboard Motor Club,Inc

This topic has 16 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 7 months ago by jeff-register.

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April 13, 2022 at 10:37 pm #258200
boatman
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Hi guys,

Helluva thing happened. I was fogging the cylinders on a 1986 Johnson 120 hp V4. Straw that attaches to the spray nozzle on the fogging oil aerosol can flew off and disappeared into the cylinder. Have moved the piston around and cannot see the straw. Is there any alternative to pulling the head to retrieve it? More familiar with the <40 hp motors. Have not had a V4 apart. Would I be able to pull an exhaust port cover and have enough room to insert some sort of plastic hook to retrieve it through an exhaust or transfer port? If I do pull the head, is it necessary to dress it before reinstalling. I’m thinking that applies only to an overheat condition.

Thanks for your help,

Paul
April 14, 2022 at 1:13 am #258203
wedgie
Participant
I have a mini bore scope camera that attaches to my Samsung phone. Comes with a little hook attachment. Under 10 bucks Canadian on Ali express. think it is 7mm diameter. Maybe you can at least spot it in there.Good luck

Just a sample link.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004134891797.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.542836099kOEvJ&algo_pvid=6aa05bd5-3964-4f04-b492-edcfe13200bc&aem_p4p_detail=202204132213556443152180840320007156847&algo_exp_id=6aa05bd5-3964-4f04-b492-edcfe13200bc-2&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22sku_id%22%3A%2212000028148025663%22%7D&pdp_pi=-1%3B6.15%3B-1%3B3.17%40salePrice%3BCAD%3Bsearch-mainSearch
- This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by wedgie.
1 user thanked author for this post.

boatman
April 14, 2022 at 8:31 am #258209
frankr
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US MEMBER PAY BY CHECK
I sort of have a hard time thinking it made its’ way past the reed plate. Even if it did, I would think it got ground to bits before reaching the cylinder. But who knows? Like you said, helluva thing to happen. I’d start looking at the reed plate area to see how far it got.
April 14, 2022 at 10:08 am #258211
Mumbles
Participant
I think it went in the other way, thru the spark plug holes.
April 14, 2022 at 12:03 pm #258219
Buccaneer
Participant
US Member
You’d think that if you rotated the engine to TDC, that
the straw would buckle up, and perhaps present itself
in front of the plug hole.

Prepare to be boarded!
April 14, 2022 at 5:15 pm #258237
billw
Participant
US Member
With a V4 Looper, that is the least of your problems. Trust me. I like Buc’s idea; but after that, just run it and it will be okay. Just my opinion.

Long live American manufacturing!
April 14, 2022 at 8:34 pm #258267
boatman
Participant
I should have been more clear, went in the spark plug hole where are the piston was far enough down the bore that the whole straw disappeared into the cylinder. I did rotate the flywheel to move the piston farther up the bore, do not see the straw through the hole. Only thing that I can figure is as the piston compressed the straw it conformed to the shape of the cylinder and did not buckle up where I would see it through the spark plug hole.

Thanks for the tip on the borescope, Wedgie. Maybe I can see where the straw has lodged itself.

If I do remove the head, do I need to dress it, or just install a new head gasket and call it a day?
April 14, 2022 at 8:39 pm #258268
Michael Anfossi
Participant
International Member
I would just run it. Engine will spit it out. It is soft and should not hurt anything
April 15, 2022 at 8:39 am #258295
Tubs
Participant
Not knowing anything about this motor could it have
slipped through a port and now be in the crankcase
or somewhere in the exhaust?
Tubs

A "Boathouse Repair" is one that done without having tools or the skills to do it properly.
April 15, 2022 at 9:54 am #258310
fleetwin
Participant
US Member
Yeah, I would look inside with a borescope or light to see if it is actually still in the cylinder, could have snuck out an exhaust port or slipped inside the crankcase. You sure wouldn’t want to pull the head off only to find nothing in the cylinder. If you don’t see it with the borescope, I would just run it, the plastic straw isn’t going to hurt anything unless somehow it gets stuck in the reeds, which seems unlikely.

If you do pull the head, then yes, the mating surfaces should be dressed with a fine emery and checked for flatness before reassembly. Be careful, the new head gasket will fit either way but most be oriented in a particular way. Be sure to use grease on the head bolt threads and torque them properly. Recheck torque after your first run.
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