Power pack or prop issue?

[k9medic]

I am only getting 5K RPM on my 150 Johnson. I'm turning a 14.5x19p prop on a 23ft. Carolina Skiff with a jackplate. The entire loaded weight is less than 2200 lbs.

I also tried a 15x17p prop with no RPM change.

Last weekend, I went out and had no spark. I wiggled a few wires and got it to spark and run without issue, yet still only get 5K RPM.

What are the chances that it's a powerpack issue and not a prop issue?

[croakerpoker]

which wires did you wiggle? i dont think a power pack would cause your engine to not hit top end. i have had them go bad on a few motors and they always would cause it to drop cylinders at a certain RPM. that doesnt sound like the case here. I'm no prop expert but that is probably your problem. if you keep it in the water it may have growth that could cause this.

[k9medic]

I took the cover off of the ignition and the wires and did what any man would have done...Grabbed a handfull of wires and wiggled. Maybe it's dropping a cylinder around 5K?

The boat is trailered so no bottom growth.

[eggsuckindog]

Might be but as posted above you should hear that when it running I would think, that motor doesn't like many more RPM anyway. You can pull the plugs and see if 1 is black and oily but PP's are the only issue with them so I wouldn't rule it out. Odd you didn't see anything with the prop though