40 HP 1968 Johnson Electramatic Problems

[archershindw]

Hello I am new to the forum and a new boat owner, 1st timer.
I have a 68 Johnson 40 hp electramatic that will not start. I have a little mechanical ability.

I tried to key start the engine but got nothing. When I checked the ignition it has 5 connections the BAT wire on the back of the ignitions is not connected to anything. Is this the ground and where do I ground it.
I found a schematic and it looks like it is suppose to go the solenoid but the wire is only 5 inches long with a loop at the end like it should be screwed into the boat frame.

I did turn the engine over with jumper cables and the starter does work and the motor turns over however the propeller was also turning when I had the controls in neutral. I am using a 12v car battery and not a deep cycle marine battery does this matter in the diagnotic stage?

You help would be appreciated

 

[jimdd810]

Re: 40 HP 1968 Johnson Electramatic Problems

The solenoid should have a ground going to it. The solenoid needs to be grounded on your model to work. Never ever run a ground wire to your boat you will have corosion very fast if you have to ground somthing run it to your battery. try running the ground to your solenoid. Is it a small or big loop at the end of the wire.

 

[royal0014]

Re: 40 HP 1968 Johnson Electramatic Problems

The car batt will be fine for testing.

Key switch has markings on the back at each post. Wire color may be different :

'S' white to solenoid (start)
'B' red to solenoid (hot)
'M' Two of these, magneto, 1 black, 1 black w/white stripe.
'C' green to electric choke
'A' brown jumpered to 'Batt" side of ammeter

Hope this helps.

 

[archershindw]

Re: 40 HP 1968 Johnson Electramatic Problems

The wire is brown 5 inches in length it is conneted to the BAT on the ignition.
The loop on the end is like a battery terminal connection however due to the length of the wire it will not reach the battery of course. So I would have to splice this and run a line to the battery from my understanding?

So when I ground it to the battery do I ground it to the negative or positive? Like I said I am no mechanic or electrictian.

Further reading on the second post says this line is "hot",

Still unclear as to what to do dont want to short anything out.

 

[lindy46]

Re: 40 HP 1968 Johnson Electramatic Problems

That brown wire probably jumped over to the ammeter from the "B" terminal on the ignition switch, and then on to the "Bat" terminal on the voltage regulator. There should be a green wire connected to the other side of the ammeter that provides 12 volts and connects to the battery side of the starter solenoid (large post). You could connect it directly to the battery, but, if I recall correctly there is a 20 amp fuse in there somewhere. Then there should be a white wire going from the "S" terminal on the ignition switch back to one of the small solenoid terminals (next to the battery side of the solenoid). The big red cable coming out of the solenoid goes directly to the starter through the wiring harness. That is your starter circuit. The other small solenoid terminal grounds back to the engine cut-out switch thru the wiring harness to the motor. The large black battery cable grounds directly to the solenoid box. With a generator, there are also wires going the the voltage regulator (in the solenoid box) and probably a tan wire going to the temperature warning light.

 

[archershindw]

Re: 40 HP 1968 Johnson Electramatic Problems

I really have no idea what you just tried to tell me. Thanks.

Here is a link to the schematic design.

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s311/frankr_photos/Wiring1963Speedifour75WithGenerator.jpg

I looks to me that everything you are saying is correct however the wire is not green as shown in the schematic it is brown, 5 inches in length with a terminal connected like is should be screwed into a ground.

 

[royal0014]

Re: 40 HP 1968 Johnson Electramatic Problems

Ok, forget about the color of the wire. Use the diagram and follow the wires, one at a time. Figure out what's missing. Pay close attention to the wire coming from the BATT terminal of the voltage regulator. It should run to the GEN side of the Ammeter (guage). The BATT side of the ammeter will run to the solenoid, and also a jumper to the 'B' terminal of the switch.

What I gave you in the earlier post was for a six post switch. If you have a five post switch, just ignore the 'C' green wire to choke, everything else is the same.

Grounds go to the negative battery post or to the engine block, which is itself grounded to the negative post.

 

[archershindw]

Re: 40 HP 1968 Johnson Electramatic Problems

ok I can see that it is about the length of where the voltage meter or (ammeter) is located I will reconnect and give it a try.
thanks .

 

[archershindw]

Re: 40 HP 1968 Johnson Electramatic Problems

hooked it up turned the key and the voltage meter next to the key does not register. Thinking I have a bad ignition. I did run a voltage check on the engine reads 12 V at the altenator. So signal seems to be running to the engine. Any suggestions.

 

[royal0014]

Re: 40 HP 1968 Johnson Electramatic Problems

Did you get it to crank and run? Ammeter won't read unless the engine is running, I think above 1500 rpm. And it's a generator, not altenator, totally different animal......

 

[archershindw]

Re: 40 HP 1968 Johnson Electramatic Problems

It will not crank from the ignition but it will crank hooking up cables to the starter.

 

[lindy46]

Re: 40 HP 1968 Johnson Electramatic Problems

I really have no idea what you just tried to tell me. Thanks.

Here is a link to the schematic design.

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s311/frankr_photos/Wiring1963Speedifour75WithGenerator.jpg

I looks to me that everything you are saying is correct however the wire is not green as shown in the schematic it is brown, 5 inches in length with a terminal connected like is should be screwed into a ground.

It would probably work per that schematic, but that is for a 1963 75hp. The schematic for your motor shows a single green wire providing 12 volts to one side of the ammeter and the short brown wire connecting to the other side of the ammeter and going on to the "B" terminal of the ignition switch. There is also another brown wire connected to that circuit going back to the "Batt" terminal of the voltage regulator.

 

[archershindw]

Re: 40 HP 1968 Johnson Electramatic Problems

took it to boat mechanic he told me its shot part it out. Thanks for your help guys

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: 40 HP 1968 Johnson Electramatic Problems

took it to boat mechanic he told me its shot part it out. Thanks for your help guys

He was just trying to get rid of you. He doesn't want to work on it because it's old and there is no money in it for him. At 65-85 bucks an hour, it's not worth him working on.

 

[jimdd810]

Re: 40 HP 1968 Johnson Electramatic Problems

yep dont give up so easily time is your friend here you can figure it out.