1971 50 hp johnson motor no start!

[fortierk]

Hello;

I was given a 1971 50 hp johnson boat/motor this summer. It belonged to my father. In 1995 my father encountered a problem with the starting of the boat. He would turn the key over and nothing would happen. He then put the key in the accessory position and tried to pull start it manually from the motor, but again nothing would happen. My father is not very mechanically inclined...nor am I...but he gave up on it nearly 12 years ago, after pulling the throttle box apart. He thinks it's a problem with the key itself....any thoughts on this? Before the starter problem the motor ran perfectly!

The boat/motor has been preserved for 12 years and I want to have a whirl at getting her started and driving again! What first steps should I take before attemting to start the motor...seeing as it's been sitting for so long? Also I had a few people take a look at the motor and it seems as if the gear is stuck in the forward position....we couldn't move it manually to neutral. I just need a starting point!

I also needed to know if there is a specific reason why the motor tends to go through so many spark plugs all the time? It seems to just eat them up like candy!


Any help is appreciated....it's an excellent motor...you can't kill it if you tried

Kelly

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1971 50 hp johnson motor no start!

first you have an electric shift motor. does not have a manual lever on engine. it automaticly start in forward, then automatically goes to neutral. heres some info on it.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=166519 then heres more http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=158086 i need to do some research on the best way to try to start, as the electric shift plays in the role. here's more info http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=199136 i don't know if you can disconnect the wiring harness plug and jump the starter on not. going to check with one of the guru's

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1971 50 hp johnson motor no start!

ok, i verified my thought with FR. 1st you unplug the big wiring harness plug. we agreed for the test that you remove the prop for safety, as the engine can start, and it would be in forward, cutting your leg off. you can take battery jumper cables, go from negative batt. post to a good ground spot on the engine. then you can take the other cable and connect to the postive batt. post, then touch it to the large post where the cable is connected, with good ground, the starter should spin the engine. if it does start, the only way to turn it off, is to choke it, or pull the plug wires. have i confused you enough. questions welcome. once you get it to turn over check the plugs for spark.

 

[fortierk]

Re: 1971 50 hp johnson motor no start!

Thank you so much for the prompt reply, and all the good resources. First things first, I have to get my hands on a manual so it can guide me through with the help of diagrams to minimize my confusion.

If the motor does not respond to the jump start....what next?


Kelly

 

[fortierk]

Re: 1971 50 hp johnson motor no start!

Hi again...I brought the starter in for testing and they said that the drive in the starter was stuck...making it unable to raise up and turn the fly wheel...would this be all that would be causing the starter from starting with the key?? Or is this just one problem of many???

 

[jtexas]

Re: 1971 50 hp johnson motor no start!

yes, that would prevent it starting the engine. did they "unstick" it? usually a couple drops of 3in1 oil will do the trick.

I don't see how that would stop the starter motor from spinning though...what is the status of your starter now?

btw you can obtain an original factory shop manual at kencook.com

on the spark plugs - you aren't using NGK are you? champions only.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1971 50 hp johnson motor no start!

i just bought a 71 50 hp rude, same motor here's link to factory manual
http://www.kencook.com/evinrudejohnsonmanuals/index.cfm?fuseaction=models.main&year=1971&ID=57740

 

[fortierk]

Re: 1971 50 hp johnson motor no start!

yes they "unstuck" it 45 dollars later! After bringing it back home I tried jump starting it again...and it turned over right away! The motor itself purrs beautifully, which I'd say is amazing considering it hasn't turned over in 12 years. I'm still having a problem with they key start....nothing happens when I turn the key...nothing at all! Is there a starter solenoid within the throttle box itself?? Is there a way I can test the power to that here at home? Like I mentioned earlier...I am not mechanically inclined...but I'm learning fast...seeing as nobody wants to even look at the motor because of it's age! The problem itself has to be wiring in the throttle box...or a starter solenoid....any ideas with what I could test myself to figure out the problem??

Yes...only using champion plugs!
I have purchased a repair manual...it's made by Clymer...I hear there not the best....and there diagrams for wiring have me all but confused...any help would be greatly appreciated!

Kelly