75 85hp Johnson Iginition trouble

[KrisC]

I actually have two problems. 1)Ignition is not responding at all when the key is turned, however the choke will still operate. It is not the push in key, but a separate choke although the key must still be in the on position for it to work. 2)The throttle will go in reverse, but is jamming up when I try to put in forward. Will go with ease when it is taken out of gear to get to cold start position, but wont go into forward gear. <br /><br />Are these problems related or separate? The ignition problem had started a while back. Boat turns over fine when jumping the starter (big/small wire). Both problems occurred at the same time yesterday when starting it at the dock to put back on the trailer after a boat ride. The ignition would not do anything. The throttle would not go into the forward position when I was trying to assure that it was in nuetral. Then when I put it in reverse while trying to move the lever back and forth I turned the key and it started while in reverse. Now that I am back at home it will not work at all.<br /><br />Please help, and I apologize for the long rambling.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: 75 85hp Johnson Iginition trouble

Kris... When you say that the "ignition is not responding", I assume that you really mean that when you turn the key to the start position, the starter does not engage and crank the engine over.<br /><br />And when you say that "the boat turns over fine when I jump the starter", once more I assume that you mean that the engine cranks over when you jump the starter solenoid.<br /><br />Rest assured that I'm not making fun of your explanations..... I just want to avoid any lack of communication.<br /><br />Assuming that my thoughts are correct, and if you are using one of the older OMC white control boxes, there is a possibility that the sharp edge of one of the nylon shifting lever teeth (inside the box) has chipped off and is jamming the shifting action. Unfortunately the control box will need to be dismantled somewhat in order to check that lever out.<br /><br />The OMC part number of the lever is 386542 and it lists for about $26.00. If this is the cause of your problem and should you have trouble locating the lever, I have one left in my remaining stock.<br /><br />However, first.... (Engine Not Running), Disconnect the shift cable at the engine, then shift the engine by hand while spinning the propeller via the engines linkage to be sure there is no problem with the engine linkage or the lower unit.

 

[KrisC]

Re: 75 85hp Johnson Iginition trouble

Joe,<br />Both of your assumptions are correct, and no offense was taken at all. I really respect your oppinion. I have been reading post on the site for a while, and your advice has helped me on several occasions. The control box is actually stainless with a red ball on top of the lever. It says Morse MT2 on the side. Hope this helps.<br /><br />I will check the lower unit as you said as soon as I get a chance and get back to you. Probably tonight or in the morning. I hope I understand your directions for checking it. It is probably obvious I am not a boat mechanic so if I can't figure it out I will let you know. Is there anyway to check the ignition switch and if so how? Also, I don't think that it does, but does that control box have a nuetral safety switch that will prevent the motor from starting.<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Kris

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: 75 85hp Johnson Iginition trouble

Kris.... Since you have a morse control, disregard the instructions about the internal shift lever as that pertained strictly to the older OMC control box.<br /><br />There is a neutral safety switch on the Morse control assy. I assume you have a binacle mount atop a console. Look under the console at the control assy and you'll see a small switch attached to it that has two (usually white) wires leading to it. That would be it.<br /><br />They're usually a sort of rectangular switch with a button of sorts in the center of it that the control depresses or releases, whatever the case may be.<br /><br />At any rate, disconnect the shift cable at the engine and check that area out as I mentioned in my previous post.

 

[KrisC]

Re: 75 85hp Johnson Iginition trouble

Joe,<br /><br />I was playing with it this evening while feeding the dogs and this is what happened. I will break it down step by step so as not to be too confusing.<br /><br />1)Tried moving the control back and forth. It "magically" went into forward. I took it out and now it was moving free as it should normally. It might have been a slight bit harder to move back and forth but very little if at all.<br /><br />2)Did not have time tonight to remove the cable so I just tried to do it with the cable connected. Hopefully that will still be OK, since at this point it will go in forward. When I put it reverse and turned the flywheel the prop turned. Same thing occurred while in forward. Prop spins free when in nuetral position. I think this is what it should do.<br /><br />3)Went back to mess with the starter switch. Tried to turn the key while the control was in nuetral position. Got no response.<br /><br />4)Put the control in reverse and tried the key. The engine turned over.<br /><br />5)Tried to move the control back to the forward position, but it was stuck again and would only travel from reverse to nuetral and no further. In addition, I got no further response from the key in nuetral. I did not try it in reverse again, because I just thought of it and it is too late here now. Don't want to make the neighbors mad. <br /><br />Thanks again. Hope this information will help. Also I will check out the switch under the console and post back in the morning.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: 75 85hp Johnson Iginition trouble

The lobes on the clutch shifter dog and the gears must be in a certain position in order for them to engage (go into gear). With the engine NOT RUNNING, have someone spin the prop when you attempt to shift into gear.

 

[KrisC]

Re: 75 85hp Johnson Iginition trouble

Progress report:<br /><br />I have got the ignition problem fixed. When I finally got everything moved and could see under the console I found that the nuetral safety switch wires had come loose. I put them back on and manually depressed the switch with my hand, which prevented power. When the switch not depressed the engine would turn over.<br /><br />Problem 2:<br /><br />I have not had a chance to get anyone over here yet to spin the prop for me yet today, but when looking for the nuetral switch I realized that the nut connecting the plunge rod that engages the nuetral switch and the gear shifting cable to the control was loose. I tightened this nut moderately tight with a 3/8" ratchet. I am not having the problem with the control not wanting to go forward, however, the control is difficult to move now. Is it possible that I tightened the nut too tight, or does it need to be greesed.<br /><br />Problem 3 (new problem):<br /><br />Since I have not had a helping hand except for my 2 yr old, I was putting the control in various positions and checking the prop by myself. It turns out that there is a very small window for the control to be in nuetral. Also the motor will still crank while in reverse. While observing the push bar which depresses the nuetral safety switch I noticed that the bar is not at its highest position when it is in nuetral. It would make since to me that at nuetral the bar should be at its highest point, but it continues to travel farther upwards when going towards reverse. Is there some way to prevent this?<br /><br />I adjusted the nuetral safety switch to be right up against the bar (but not depressed) when the control is in nuetral. However it continues to travel upwards for some point while heading towards nuetral, which is the reason it is letting it start in reverse. Hopefully there is something I am overlooking.