Recently purchased a used pontoon with a 40hp Johnson with elect start. Model # TJ40ELESR and serial # G02564073. I got no manuals with this purchase. Would first like to verify, if this is indeed a 1990 engine? Then need to address an electrical issue that the prior owner had been having and evidently did not solve. Last weekend, when I attempted to start the engine, I found the battery was discharged. Upon putting a battery charger on it and hitting the boost on the charger, we were unable to get the engine to do anything except grown and turn over very slowly. Upon turning off the ignition switch and removing the key, the engine continued to grown and turn over slowly. Should I be looking for a defective ignition switch, or a bad starter?? The engine did stop turning over shortly afterward, and I continued to keep the charger on the battery. Later I removed the charger and checked the battery voltage under no load, and came up slightly over 10v, so apparently the battery has a bad cell and needs to be replaced. In spite of that, it was enough to start the engine and was able to use it for several trips around our small lake for the rest of the day. I do have some prior experience with simple aircraft engines from the early 1960 era, but an a newbie to marine engines. <br /><br />Any assistance will be greatly appreciated. Shel n0drx@juno.com
