1969 Johnson 40 horse ignition problem

[skunkydan]

Ok well Hi. Im a new user of this forum and of outboard motors. This is the problem I need help with. I have just bought a 16 foot aluminum boat, 5.5 feet wide and 24 inches deep. It is an older apparently no name boat with a closed in bow. My friend has a 1969 Johnson 40 horse he said I can have because he is no longer using it. It did run well. The key was broke off in the ignition so he just unscrewed all the wires off of it and and was going to get me a new one, which he did. The problem is , I now have no idea which wires go to what points on the ignition switch. He also got a new ammeter, which I believe go to the orange and the red wires, but am not sure. I have a manual for the motor but it is so vague that for the 40 bucks i spent, I would have been better taking my wife out for dinner. Instead I was lashed for my choice of friends. (Ya, I know he GAVE me the motor, but I guess that doesnt matter to her) Anyway, I digress. Please could someone help me out so I can stop the madness. The motor isModel # 40R69 and there is a black, agreen, and a blue wire coming out of the remote control unit and the switch was, is a 5 prong unit,has 2 "n"'s, 1a,1 s and a"B"marked on it. thanks

 

[lark2004]

Re: 1969 Johnson 40 horse ignition problem

welcome abord!<br /><br />you too have joined a now large group of us who own Big Twin outboards. They are great motors, once you get the bugs (cobwebs, they are old after all!) out of them. They are quiet, reliable, and look really cool!<br /><br />have a look at this link, it might help<br /><br /> http://mercury.walagata.com/w/chapsboy/5557180.jpg <br /><br />keep us posted!

 

[skunkydan]

Re: 1969 Johnson 40 horse ignition problem

Thanks for the reply Lark, the wiring schematic you show is very good and is fairly similar but the wire colors are a bit differant. I will keep it though as I do know where there is a 1959 rude Lark Golden Jubalee 35 horse , for the taking. I will have a second and third look at this diagram, and try to get it done. I must have this boat sea worthy by the middle of september and would like to take her on a maiden voyage before I go away. We are going 12 hours north of my home and want all the bugs out before. Thanks again ^

 

[CATransplant]

Re: 1969 Johnson 40 horse ignition problem

"is a 5 prong unit,has 2 "n"'s, 1a,1 s and a"B"marked on it. thanks "<br /><br />Since I can't see your remote, which may not be for that engine, I can't help with those wires, but I can help with the switch wires.<br /><br />I believe that the "n" terminals are probably actually "m" terminals. If so here's what should be attached to the terminals. You'll have to trace them down yourself, on the motor, or remote, however:<br /><br />"m" -- This is the kill circuit. Two wires come from under the flywheel on your motor. They go various places, then to the wiring harness. They are generally black or black with another colored tracer. Follow them from under the flywheel to their next stop, then from those locations to the wiring harness to your controls. One goes to each "m" terminal. When you turn off the key, this shorts the wires together and kills the engine.<br /><br />"B" -- This connects to the positive side of the battery, to supply 12V to the "A" terminal (when the key is in the "on" position) and to the "S" terminal (when you turn the key to "start").<br /><br />"S" -- This connects to the small terminal<br />on the starter solenoid <br /><br />"A" -- This is the accessory terminal, used for gauges, etc. It may connect to nothing on your boat.<br /><br />I hope that helps. With the diagram in the link above, you should be able to trace things down.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: 1969 Johnson 40 horse ignition problem

Oh yes, grab that '59, if it's free. The Golden Jubilee 35 was a great motor. If you get it, try to get the wiring harness that plugs into the plug on the side of the engine, too. They're almost unobtainable, even used, which means you'll have to construct a wiring harness yourself if you can't get it.<br /><br />Don't pass it up, if it's available.

 

[technostingray]

Re: 1969 Johnson 40 horse ignition problem

Dang, when I saw your handle attached to this thread I thought your JOHNS rude had let you down. Caught any Fish lately? Remember Phishing is allowed, but no trolling. The weather here the last week has bee over a hundred, of course you being from "over on the coast" that probably doesn't mean much to you. Aloha. Formerly Tech Nostupeedo.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: 1969 Johnson 40 horse ignition problem

Were you talking to me?

 

[skunkydan]

Re: 1969 Johnson 40 horse ignition problem

im not sure who techtoo is talking to or about?? But anyway, Thanks for the info given and im still gonna keep working on this til I get it right. Also, I did get the 59 Lark today, This thing is so clean, but we made an oopps loading it in the truck and snapped the top part of the shifter lever off, where the cable connects, but with technology today (Aint it great) and my fathers day gift( wire feed welder) I think I canweld it. It has no wires coming out of it, remote wires I mean, and no remote control, but after an hour of yanking on the pull start, checking for spark and such, my daughter and I got it to fire and run for about 15 seconds, but it didnt seem to draw fuel, it would only start with a prime and then stop , so probably fuel pump or float or carb trouble, but its a done deal. So now I have two big twins. As for the 40 horse Johnson , I am going to go now to trace the wires and see if Lark and CATransplants advice gets me anywhere. Thank you guys, I will report back.

 

[lark2004]

Re: 1969 Johnson 40 horse ignition problem

It Confirmed! Big Twins are addictive!!!!

 

[skunkydan]

Re: 1969 Johnson 40 horse ignition problem

ok so now I can see, or I think, that there are some purple wires that maybe comes off the "A" prong that are to go to electric choke switch? Im still unsure where the larger red wire and orange wire go, to the ammeter?

 

[skunkydan]

Re: 1969 Johnson 40 horse ignition problem

Ok sorry guys, as I talk to myself and look at the diagrams and then at my wires im getting an idea how this is going to work maybe. I dont want to be a pain in the butt.

 

[lark2004]

Re: 1969 Johnson 40 horse ignition problem

Your not a pain in the but, just excited about starting to understand how to get it to work. We all suffer from the same disease. BigTwinitise!

 

[technostingray]

Re: 1969 Johnson 40 horse ignition problem

Originally posted by CATransplant:<br /> Were you talking to me?

Not me sir, I was talking to the other guy from over on the coast.

 

[surf1960]

Re: 1969 Johnson 40 horse ignition problem

I too have a 1969 40 HP evinrude. The advice from CATranplant is the way my switch is wired. It should work. Have you ever had problems with a lack of power under load (when the boat is in the water?) I have checked everything oil/gas mix 50;1, high speed carb jet, J6 plugs at 0.030 inch and still can't get any power or RPM's when under load in the water. It runs fine on the trailer with the engine in a trash can full of water. Got any ideas as to what else I could look at??

 

[skunkydan]

Re: 1969 Johnson 40 horse ignition problem

So in the morning I am going to go and get another ignition, the one my buddy got was the wrong one. OMC has the right one, its 44 bucks here but im getting it anyway. Seems like a lot for a key and a switch, but then my wife calls me cheap all the time. rather spend it on gas. Another question, is the selenoid the same as say a ford car selenoid? Mine looks the same, just wondering.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: 1969 Johnson 40 horse ignition problem

I think the solenoid is different from an auto one. I'm not sure exactly how it's different, though.<br /><br />Surfside, Post a new thread for your problem. It's too difficult to deal with two owners in one thread.

 

[skunkydan]

Re: 1969 Johnson 40 horse ignition problem

I guess they are wired differantly,,,,? I got the ignition and am going to try hookin it up, wish me luck, Im sure I will be back.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: 1969 Johnson 40 horse ignition problem

Just try to make sure you don't send 12 volts through the kill wires. You can burn the coils out if you do that, and you don't need that grief.<br /><br />What I did, when I was unsure of my switch wiring on mine, was to disconnect the far ends of both wires that come from under the flywheel so I couldn't accidentally put 12 V to them. I did my first running tests with no kill circuit and used the electric choke to kill the engine while it was idling.<br /><br />You're going to want some kind of continuity tester, so you can make sure the wire you're hooking up to the switch goes where you think it does. Take your time.

 

[skunkydan]

Re: 1969 Johnson 40 horse ignition problem

Well the ignition came with a wiring diagram on it and shows the black and the black with purple tracer (which I have) going to the 2 "m" posts, so I am going to go with that, but your Idea of disconnecting ant the coil has a safe ring to it, just in case, "eh". I have a multimeter with an audible continuity tester, so we will give er a try.

 

[kevin88]

Re: 1969 Johnson 40 horse ignition problem

I've wired a few ignition switches and I can give you a little to go on... The three letters on the ignition terminals for A, B, and S stand for Accessory (or anything that needs power while the key is on), Battery (or where to get the power) and Start which goes directly to your starter soleniod for those with electric start.