1979 Johnson Seahorse 85hp V-4: Starter? Idling Problems

[auphotographer]

I recently bought a 1979 Mark Twain boat with a 85hp Johnson Outboard motor. I took it out on the river and it started up fine the first few times. However, after idling a few times and turning the motor off in the water it will not idle. It will warm up, but as soon as I put the warm up lever down to engage the motor to forward it cuts off. I figure it might be carb or fuel filter. I do not think it is the spark plugs since it cranks up fairly fine with the warm up lever on. I had this happen the other day and the motor would not crank, and I tried to crank it till the battery went dead (simply got frustrated with it). Well I took it home and went to charge the battery up and here's a bigger problem I believe: as soon as I hook the battery up to the charger the motor tries (very slowly, or half-hearted) to turn over. Do you have to disconnect the battery from the boat to charge it? If I charge the battery (disconnect), then I am afraid that when I go to hook it back it, the starter motor will still try to crank. And this is all without the key in the ignition. It's almost like the ignition is stuck in the 'crank/on' position, even without the key in it. Could this be the case. Also, back to earlier, do you think it is the carb that needs adjusting, the throttle cable, fuel filter, or all of the above?

Thanks,
Frank

 

[crazyinkc]

Re: 1979 Johnson Seahorse 85hp V-4: Starter? Idling Problems

I would check the solenoid first. You may have fried the contacts together inside it when you were cranking on it. After that, check the ignition switch for proper function. The idle problem could be many things but we need to get the starter problem resolved before we continue.

 

[auphotographer]

Re: 1979 Johnson Seahorse 85hp V-4: Starter? Idling Problems

Any suggestions on where to find a solenoid for a 1979 85hp Johnson Motor? Are they generic, or very engine specific?

Thanks,
Frank

 

[dewangy]

Re: 1979 Johnson Seahorse 85hp V-4: Starter? Idling Problems

oriley auto parts can get you any johnson parts. if you have original fuel lines you should replace all of them.

 

[snodgrass.zach]

Re: 1979 Johnson Seahorse 85hp V-4: Starter? Idling Problems

if u fallow the wiring harness start at the motor and where ever it goes. usually inside the boat somewhere there should be a medal box that it goes in to in there u will find ur silinod. the silinod should have ur positive battery cable on it... along with ur coil wire on it also......let me know what u find out

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: 1979 Johnson Seahorse 85hp V-4: Starter? Idling Problems

When the engine is at idle, the carb butterflies are closed. The engine relies on fuel passed through the idle passages only. If these are plugged with old, dried fuel, it will only idle at high with the idle lever up. Probably need the carbs cleaned. The starter turning slowly could also be a bad key switch, or the key switch could have water in it.

 

[JB]

Re: 1979 Johnson Seahorse 85hp V-4: Starter? Idling Problems

This thread is 4 months old, guys.