Johnson control box problem

[upnorthzx10r]

I have a 1983 Canaventure runabout....with a 70 hp Johnson on the back (1983) The boat and motor are in tip top shape....hasn't let me down untill recently. The throttle box has an emergency lanyard switch on it....(which is missing, its only a little spring loaded button that is showing). The control box sits kinda close to my hip when driving the boat....one day we hit some pretty rough water and were getting bounced around good and my hip hit this button, which killed the motor....after a few minutes i sourced the problem...and pulled the button out and it fired right up and we were on our way again...but a few times it wouldn't start with out fiddling with this button...and its to a point now were it wont even start....it just keeps turning over and over but wont go...and if you hold the button in while cranking...it sputters a bit but just wont go...no amount of workin the button in and out will make it go. Haven't tried manually starting the motor yet. Is there a way to by pass this emergency switch in the control box. I know this is the problem...the motor was running great up untill i hit the switch. Thanks for any feed back.

 

[cr2k]

Re: Johnson control box problem

Either replace the button or disconnect the wires to it.

 

[F_R]

Re: Johnson control box problem

If you have your story right, the cut-off switch is messed up from the get-go. It should NOT run with the lanyard disconnected. The lanyard holds the button depressed so it WILL run. If you have the lanyard clipped to your life vest like you are supposed to, and get tossed out of the boat, the lanyard goes with you and the motor stops like an obedient horse and waits for you to climb back aboard.

If it works otherwise, I don't have a clue at to why.

Except to say this: If the button is sticking "in" it is defective and won't do what it is supposed to do when you get tossed overboard.

Don't need the protection?? Maybe, but I personally know of two guys that got tossed out of their boats and died. One of them only had a 5hp Johnson on a rowboat. The rowboat then went around in a circle and came back and ran over him and cut him up to bleed to death. The other one, a bass boat, took off and left him there in the middle of the lake. He drowned. The boat was found ran aground miles away.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Johnson control box problem

unplug the big red plug, and jump the starter solenoid, only to test the motor. then replace the emergency switch.
Jump Starting outboard
#1 you need a really sturdy mount. lots of torque there. you connect battery cables ground to block, postive to top post on solenoid. mount the muffs on water intake, connect hose. now with a remote starter switch, auto parts store, connect 1 wire of the switch to the top battery post on the solenoid, the other wire to the top small post, turn water on, squeeze switch, motor should turn over. CAUTION: there are only three ways to stop the motor, disconnect fuel line, choke the motor, or remove all plug wires. DO NOT rev the motor higher than 1500 rpms. it can cause a run away motor that cannot be stopped, other than disconnecting fuel source, but in the mean time, may throw a rod, etc.

 

[upnorthzx10r]

Re: Johnson control box problem

Ive looked online and found replacement lanyard switch on this site actually...but i dont see how it will work...because when i try and start it...i can pull the button out with my fingers while turning the key and it still wont start. I think there is something wrong with the button internally. How hard would it be to wire it so it just doesn't work?. What other avenues could i explore...the boating season up here is coming to an end and would like a quick fix for the time being. Ive seached this site for maybe a new controll unit itself but none ive found have had the ignition switch with it.
thanks.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Johnson control box problem

did you try the technique i suggested, if not you have no idea why it will not start. sure you can bypass the switch, remove the wires and isolate them from each other, all it is, is a ground switch, to ground the spark. but for safety replace it and quit being hardheaded. a hard head is not match for a spinning prop.