1961 Johnson 3 hp will not fire

[Paul Moir]

Re: 1961 Johnson 3 hp will not fire

Do you happen to have a timing light? If so, there's a dot on the flywheel and marks on the armature plate you can use to confirm your timing. At least they're there on the '62 3hp.<br /><br />The reddish/pinkish coil is an older one. The green one (black plastic over the windings) is a replacement. I've also seen some aftermarket light green coils. OMC used the same ignition coil in their sub-40hp engines from the early '50s to the later '70s depending on the engine.<br />The red ones are famous for cracking and arcing over or getting moisture in them.<br /><br />

spark will jump a 1/2 gap from the wire to the plug hole

Gahhh! Do you still have hair on your arm? Watch out, sometimes there is fuel/air mix shooting out of that hole when you crank! Try testing against some other part of the block far away from the plug holes in the future. <br /><br />PS - the screen and intake silencer which fits over the carburator's mouth really helps it run right. I guess the screen restricts airflow and richens the mix, kind of like a choke. You can compensate some with the high speed needle adjustment.

 

[Bill kubiak]

Re: 1961 Johnson 3 hp will not fire

I took the green coil and put it in my Johnson 2hp motor, I also put in a new plug wire while I was at it. The 2 hp now runs better then it ever did. <br />tomorrow I will try the red coil in the 2 hp and see what happens.<br />at least I know for sure one coil is good.<br />As a sidenote....I did a compression test on the 2hp. It took 5 or 6 turns to get the compression up to 60psi ther same as the 3 hp does<br />confused

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: 1961 Johnson 3 hp will not fire

The 3hp engine will run (badly) on one cylinder, so I think you've got some other problem causing it to not run. A 60 psi reading is not unusual either, especialy on a fresh rebuild since the rings aren't broken in yet. I've seen these engines run on less (by my guage anyway - some are pretty inacurate especially on small displacement engines.)<br /><br />Beware of automotive sparkplug wire, by the way. Copper core only for these magneto powered engines.<br /><br />How does the spark on the 2hp compare to the spark on the 3hp? I'm just wondering if you might not have a hot spark.

 

[Bill kubiak]

Re: 1961 Johnson 3 hp will not fire

Timing<br />I have a light but it needs a 12V source to work, how could I use it on an outboard???<br /><br />There is two timing marks on the magneto plate for when you use a special timing tool, there is also two notch's on the flywheel, one is a narrow notch and the other is a wider notch on the oposite side of the first notch.

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: 1961 Johnson 3 hp will not fire

One notch is for the top cyinder, one for the bottom. <br /><br />Hook the 12v connections to a 12v source, like a car battery or a car. Then clip the pickup onto the spark plug lead on the timing light. The 12v only provides power for the flash, the timing comes exclusively from the ignition system. You will not need to connect the car/battery to the outboard in any other way.

 

[Bill kubiak]

Re: 1961 Johnson 3 hp will not fire

How easy should the reed valves be to move????<br />What kind of test can I give em at home.<br />If I blow on then should I be able to blow them open? I am wondering if the valves are not opening properly allowing fuel and air in.<br />When I had the engine apart they did not seem all that delicate.