1969 Johnson 115 will not start

[JBourd]

I have been recently blessed with a boat with a '69 Johnson 115 hp outboard engine. When I bought the boat the guy told me to start it, you have to load the carbs with ether and bump the starter switch and eventually it would catch. Well after several hundred tries it worked. However I cannot make the motor start consistently. I bought a SELOC manual for the motor and dug into the troubleshooting mode. I have replaced the Ignition coil, plug wires, distributor cap, rotor, anti reverse spring,and repaired any wires I could find with open insulation that may be grounding out. I have found when the motor actually "catches", it does run in the opposite direction the starter is turning it (counter clockwise) for a few seconds and the coughs and rotates clockwise. Once started and running JBourd@aol.com

it pops, but not enough to cause the engine to stall. Several people I have spoken to offer as many suggestions and of course there are no REAL outboard mechanics left who will help me with this one because of the age of the motor, so I am turning to you good people...It was suggested that maybe the ignition switch itself may be causing the problem or the timing advance is all wrong as indicated by the reversed rotation of the initial start up. How am I supposed to set the timing if I cant get the darned thing to run? HELP PLEASE!?!<br />If it is easier, please contact me via email at JBourd@aol.com and put 115 Johnson in the subject line. I am desperate and ready to take a huge sledge hammer to this thing. My wife is ready to do the same to me!<br />John

 

[JB]

Re: 1969 Johnson 115 will not start

Howdy, JBourd.<br /><br />Never put ether starting fluid in a 2 stroke unless you are prepared for it to blow up in your face. Use fuel premix.<br /><br />Go to www.outboardrepairs.com and look up wont start.<br /><br />The advice there will have her behaving soon.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[JBourd]

Re: 1969 Johnson 115 will not start

'Fuel Pre-mix?" Is that something I can buy for that or something I have to do myself and pour into the carbs? I'm sorry I really don't have a lot of knowledge about this but, I'm learning rather quickly.

 

[carmangary1]

Re: 1969 Johnson 115 will not start

I had the similar problems with my 1972 Johnson 85. I adjusted the points and it ran fine.

 

[JB]

Re: 1969 Johnson 115 will not start

Premix is the fuel you mix in the tank for the engine.<br /><br />You have a loose or broken part in your ignition timing system. . .cause by ether. Could be the flywheel key.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: 1969 Johnson 115 will not start

JBourd.... Blessed? Well, we shall see (grin). The problem you describe is caused by fouled, clogged, gummed up carburetors (the previous owner apparently was a put off, I'll do it later artist). The cure is to remove, clean, and rebuild them. I strongly suggest that you put off that project until you have a strong understanding of those components via your service manual. (Make notes!)<br /><br />The timing?... Unless that has been tinkered with, leave it alone. We'll get back to that later if need be.<br /><br />Note.... the flywheel nut must be torqued to exactly 105 foot pounds, otherwise it will shear the flywheel key which will result in the engine being out of time.<br /><br />Regardless of the problem, always check the compression and ignition. Compression should be in the 100+ psi range and even on all cylinders. Spark on that model (with the s/plugs out) should jump a 1/4" gap with a strong blue flame on all cylinders.<br /><br />The engine running backwards, even for a revolution or two indicates that you do not have the "Anti Reverse Cutout Spring" installed properly. The fact that it kicks backwards, then stops could also indicate that you have the plug wires routed incorrectly.<br /><br />As JB states, ether is a NO NO! Not only can it explode and remove your eyebrows at a minumum, but that substance has no lubricating qualities. This would result in many internal problems.

 

[JBourd]

Re: 1969 Johnson 115 will not start

I cetainly will take into the carburator rebuild. However, when holding anyone of the plugs to ground, I get no spark at all from it. I will check the woodruf key again and be sure to torque the flywheel as suggested. The last time I looked at the key it was a little loose in the key way but displayed really no damage. I think this may be a combination of problems as suggested with the carbs and spark. I'll keep you posted but wont be able to play with it now for a couple of days...

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: 1969 Johnson 115 will not start

JBourd.... To test the powerpack on that model, see the following.<br /><br />(Battery Capacitance Dischage Powerpack Test)<br />(Various OMC Engines - 1968 to 1972)<br /><br />Purchase a small 12v bulb at your local automotive parts store (the 12v bulb is to look like a flashlight bulb, not a headlight bulb). Solder two wires to that bulb, one to the side of the bulb (ground), and the other to the positive point. <br /><br />Remove the spark plugs. With the key in the on position, make sure that you have 12v going to the pack at the terminal block (purple wire). Now, connect the ground wire from the bulb to any powerhead ground. Connect the wire from the positive point of that bulb to the powerpack wire that is connected to the coil wire on the terminal board (blue wire). <br /><br />Crank the engine and observe that bulb closely (CLOSELY!). If that bulb glows even the slightest bit, the powerpack is okay. It may be a very dim glow... just so it glows! If it doesn't glow, the pack has failed. <br /><br />Keep in mind, that type powerpack (Battery Capacitance Discharge) demands a top notch battery of at least 70 amp hours. Any less will, in time, cause powerpack failure.

 

[JBourd]

Re: 1969 Johnson 115 will not start

hello Gentlemen, I have tested the power pack with a light as prescribed. I get a light on the purple wire with the ignition switch on, however no light at all when attatched to the coil wire. I'll replace the power pack and let you know my results. By the way I think in an earlier post someone suggested that the plug wires may not be installed in the proper order. The SELOC manual does not display or tell which wires from the distributor go to which plugs...If anyone has a diagram or can accurately describe the order in which they should be in. Please help me out. If you ahve a daigram, please, if you can scan and email to jBourd@aol.com and put 115 Johnson in the subject line? Thanks