I have a approx 1973 johnson 2hp outboard motor...I got it out on the water this weekend while camping.  when it starts it will run but i will always have to adjust the lean and rich for high speed or else it will give out and same with the slow speed...it seams that when the motor is running the little things you turn rattle and turn...is there a way that I can adjust them and then use lock tight?  (but it seams that when you turn it one way it goes faster) also the stop, start, fast thing moves over as i am going to any way of stopping that?

another question I have is it seams that i have to have it past the start position to get it to start up could there be a reason for that?

Thanks all help is appreciated.

The two screws you refer to are needle valves for the carberator. They adjust air/fuel mixture. The top valve is for low speed and the bottom is for high speed. Once they are adjusted properly you really don't need to mess with them much.

That is what I found on a site.  so my next question is how do I set the properly and how do I get it to stay in that position will lock tight be enough to hold it from all the vibration?

Too bad you don't live closer to GA. I have one that I would give you. I just threw the lower cover in the truck to haul to the dump and plan to do the same to the rest of the motor when I get to it. I actually got it to run but it's just been sitting for for 10 - 15 years and I'm not gonna mess with it.

As for the crab adjustments, I think they are in a brass nut you can tighten and that increase the pressure on some compression packings that will tighten the needle adjustemt screw to keep them from vibrating loose. On the same principle as your old plumbing faucets. It the one I have wasn't buried in the back of a bunch of other junk, I could dig it out to verifly that.

I went here and varified that it does have the packing nuts you can just tighten. http://12.2.215.22/pub/default.asp?SessionId=8e37cea5b72a4b55b44c9fbd6e89fe83&Lang=EN&brands=SKIDOO,SEADOO,ATV,SPORTBOAT,EJ

Just bring up Johnson, year and click on the HP the carb.

ok so there is the needle valves that move and then there is the 2 other screws for like lean and rich I tighten those or what do I tighten?

The needle valves and mixture adjustments are one in the same, just different termonology.

The two screws/knobs you are adjusting for high speed and low speed mixture go through a brass nut that's screwed into the carburator. Tighten that brass nut on each one until the mixture adjustments fell pretty snugg when you turn them. At the bottom of those nuts are compression packings that squize against the shafts of the mixture adjustments to keep them from sucking air and to make them so they don't vibrate and turn on their on.

To properly adjust them, only adjust the high speed when the motor is in the water and running wide open.  Turn it out until the motor is running rough, then slowly turn it, the motor will start to increase in rpm and run smoother.  Keep going in slowly, the motor will reach peak rpm and sound it's best and go just a little more until it starts to change again, then bring it back out until it's running it's very best.  Just for a little fudge factor, screw it out about another 1/8 turn from there, or until the motor just starts to change sound/loose a few rpm again.

By now the motor should be good and warm, bring the rpm down until it's at idle, now adjust the low speed in or out which ever makes the motor gain rpm and run smoother.  As it gains rpm keep bring the ilde speed down and tweeking the idle adjustments.  If it spits and jerks and cuts off,  go back toward rich just a little, you are getting into what's called lean spit.

When the motor is cold, you will usually have to turn the idle about a 1/2 turn richer to get it to idle, then lean it back out when it warms up.  

so I need to tighten the compression packings? once I get it set perfect.

No, before you adjust them, if they are too loose they may be sucking air and it would change your adjustments when you tightenen them.  You want to leave them loose enough to still be able to turn them, just that they will be snugg to turn.

i tighten them and they still move... it is the black knobs right?

I got the things tightened..now I am having troubles setting it to run and stuff.. any pointers?

There is always the posiblity the compression washers in the bottom were too dried out and broke to pieces.  There is also the possibility they were letting air leak by them and when you stop the leak, the carb is too dirty to let it work like it's suppose to.  Because of how old it is and the problems you run into with old, deteriated parts is why I'm not going to mess with that one I mentioned.

You really should follow what I put in the ealier post and adjust the main first at WOT and then try adjusting the idle after it's warms.  They can load up if the main is too far off and making the idle tough to adjust.

I had it running for about a minute and then it just died.  and on the weekend it was working like a champ but alwas dieing because I had to keep adjusting things on the move becuase of the rattleing.  once it was runnigng tonight and died It wouldn't start again.. the carb is also clean so should I just play around with the setting and which knob would you recomend I play with most?  also I am not too concerend about ideling i just need it to almost max out I have my little electric trolling motor to get me going then this motor to just get to where I need to be faster and without draining my battery.

get you a spray bottle with premixed gas and spray in the carb as it's running.  If you can keep it running with the spray bottle, it's dying because it's starving for gas.  That caused by any one of several things.

The tank is so gummed up, it's not letting the fuel to the carb.   Pour a quart of denatured alcohol in it and a hand full of small rocks and shake the hell out of it. let it sit, and shake it again.  Do this several time, pour all that junk out  and rinse it out with a little fresh gas.

If the tank fitting screws into the bottom, take it out and clean it.

The needle and seat could be sticking or the carb gummed up coming into the needle and seat.

Next would be some orfices you probably don't know are there in the high speed pickup.

From what you describe, I would be willing to bet money you've missed something in the fuel system and it's not getting fuel.

Thanks way2slow I played around with the needles adjustments today and I got it running like a champ and will hopefully get to go out in the water tonight and make sure everything is all good.  I wouldn't have been able to do this with out you and ofcourse bass resource!! thanks.