1971 Johnson 60hp ignition problems

[05blastsrt4]

Hello all,



I recently acquired a 1971 glastron with a 1971 johnson 60els71c motor. The problem I am having is that I am getting no spark. Following other posts on the forum, I have checked voltage coming from the ignition to the purple wire going into the amplifier, I have voltage there, when I disconnect the black lead going to the breaker plate assembly and touch it to ground, I am not getting a spark, as soon as I disconnect the lead the amplifier starts ticking, and as soon as I ground it the ticking stops. I do not have any voltage coming out of the amplifier on the blue wire that mates with the coil with the key on or while cranking. I have a new amplifier coming, I was just wanting to make sure that i was on the right path here.

I did notice when tearing down that the red wire coming out of the rectifier had all the insulation corroded off and could have possibly been shorting out to the board. Could this have caused my problems from the start?



thanks in advance
Lynn

 

[05blastsrt4]

Re: 1971 Johnson 60hp ignition problems

anyone?

 

[Daviet]

Re: 1971 Johnson 60hp ignition problems

The only way I have tested those systems is with a flash tube. Have you removed the flywheel and checked the points, dist cap and rotor?

 

[05blastsrt4]

Re: 1971 Johnson 60hp ignition problems

no I have not removed the flywheel yet, I read somewhere here that if you disconnect the black wire from the amplifier and ground it you should get a spark, I got no spark, but the ticking from the amplifier stopped.

 

[Daviet]

Re: 1971 Johnson 60hp ignition problems

Can't help you there, never done it that way. Have you got a factory manual to trouble shoot it with?

 

[05blastsrt4]

Re: 1971 Johnson 60hp ignition problems

no, no factory service manual, can you recommend a good place to get one? There seem to be so many different ones out there.

 

[STARCRAFT16SS]

Re: 1971 Johnson 60hp ignition problems

started skimming through my manual...on 4-4 step 4..Checking amplifier-Disconnect both purple leads at the terminal board. See figure 4-3A. Connect a low reading ammeter between the purple lead connectors. With ignition switch on, engine not running, ammeter should read .2 ampere. See Figure 4-7A. With engine running at 4500 RPM, ammeter should run between 1.5-3.0 amperes. See Figure 4-7B The meter needle should be steady. An unsteady meter reading would indicate mal-functioning points. This should be investigated before replacing the amplifier. If reading is too high or too low, replace amplifier........
Don't know if any of this helps or not...send me a PRIVATE message with your e-mail address... I could send you some pages from the manual...
that red wire coming out of your amplifier does not sound good..I am a beginner...just learning...still on my first boat...1971 Starcraft with a 1971 60hp Johnson..."C" motor ...the lower unit was a "C" but I replaced it with a lower
unit from a 1971 60hp "E" ...works fine

 

[05blastsrt4]

Re: 1971 Johnson 60hp ignition problems

started skimming through my manual...on 4-4 step 4..Checking amplifier-Disconnect both purple leads at the terminal board. See figure 4-3A. Connect a low reading ammeter between the purple lead connectors. With ignition switch on, engine not running, ammeter should read .2 ampere. See Figure 4-7A. With engine running at 4500 RPM, ammeter should run between 1.5-3.0 amperes. See Figure 4-7B The meter needle should be steady. An unsteady meter reading would indicate mal-functioning points. This should be investigated before replacing the amplifier. If reading is too high or too low, replace amplifier........
Don't know if any of this helps or not...send me a PRIVATE message with your e-mail address... I could send you some pages from the manual...
that red wire coming out of your amplifier does not sound good..I am a beginner...just learning...still on my first boat...1971 Starcraft with a 1971 60hp Johnson..."C" motor ...the lower unit was a "C" but I replaced it with a lower
unit from a 1971 60hp "E" ...works fine

PM sent starcraft16ss

thanks for the help

 

[05blastsrt4]

Re: 1971 Johnson 60hp ignition problems

ok everyone here is an update,

I have not received my amplifier yet, but I did receive my new rectifier. I decided to go ahead and put it on and sure enough the motor started and ran really well. However 2 hours later the motor would not start, no spark again. Waited until the next morning and tried it again and it started right up????? For 2 days after I tried to start the motor periodically throughout the day and it started up everytime. Now on the 3rd day the engine won't start. This is beginning to get bizarre. I am planning on pulling the flywheel and checking the points. Just wondering what everyone's thoughts were.

 

[05blastsrt4]

Re: 1971 Johnson 60hp ignition problems

Anyone???

 

[Modscorp]

Re: 1971 Johnson 60hp ignition problems

Hi

I have the same motor and exactly the same issue. Some useful test information is on
http://www.cdielectronics.com/downloads/troubleshooting guide/ refer to
OMC 3 and 4 Cylinder 1968-1972 55-100 HP (With 113-7123 Power Pack).pdf.

Also I noticed from your photos that you have the Clipper module. This module i removed after being advised by many people to take off. It could cause many issues. I dont know what its purpose.

 

[Phyreman]

Re: 1971 Johnson 60hp ignition problems

Have the same motor...60ESL71c. Also a 14' Starcraft. we've been working our motor for a while now and have gotten it running perfect, now we need a Switch and cable assembly in our remote box. which brings me to you, 05blastsrt4. When you are trying to start your motor, do you sometimes get nothing from the ignition, or does the engine turn over but not start?

 

[05blastsrt4]

Re: 1971 Johnson 60hp ignition problems

Have the same motor...60ESL71c. Also a 14' Starcraft. we've been working our motor for a while now and have gotten it running perfect, now we need a Switch and cable assembly in our remote box. which brings me to you, 05blastsrt4. When you are trying to start your motor, do you sometimes get nothing from the ignition, or does the engine turn over but not start?

Yes the motor would turn over and not start. I did put a new amplifier on it last night and it started right up afterwards. However I had it running the day before with the old amplifier on it. I have removed the flywheel and cleaned and re gapped the points.

 

[05blastsrt4]

Re: 1971 Johnson 60hp ignition problems

I thought I would I post an update, after putting the new amplifier on the boat has started everytime I turn the key. So hopefully the problem had been resolved.

 

[Phyreman]

Re: 1971 Johnson 60hp ignition problems

With the exception to having no gear, this is a posting I made on another site regarding the starting problems that we had and our solution:

Did a whole bunch of stuff. Turns out we were seriously out of time. We spent the day first removing the fly wheel and making sure that the points were correct ended up readjusting them to 0.010" and secured them with blue lock tite(this engine is a dual point engine (ACK!)), and placed the spark advance lever at angle based on the pictures in the manual assumed to be TDC. We measured 22 deg along the plate and adjusted the linkage to stop at that point, wound back the mechanical advance stop to adjust during motor test run. We then made sure that the neutral start switch was set on the correct cam height, and replaced the Flywheel. We readjusted the carburetor throttle cam and accelerator rod for proper positioning. When went through the carburetors, made sure the linkages were set the same, carbs were clean, and needle valve adjustment was correct at 5/8 turn when the low speed adjustment knob is straight up and down. All three operated together correctly. The test run took a while get a comfortable idle that didn't quit on us. With constant adjustments to the low speed idle screw AND trunion wheel. We were then able to work on the timing adjustments for throttling up. Very pleased with the results and locked down the mechanical advance stop. As long as we were there, we checked the oil consistency, and resistance to the electronic shifts. Al seemed perfect.

 

[05blastsrt4]

Re: 1971 Johnson 60hp ignition problems

ok everyone,

I have had the boat out on the water 2 whole afternoons and everything is great. Thanks everyone for all the help.

 

[mokanwarrior]

Re: 1971 Johnson 60hp ignition problems

Have the same motor...60ESL71c. Also a 14' Starcraft. we've been working our motor for a while now and have gotten it running perfect, now we need a Switch and cable assembly in our remote box. which brings me to you, 05blastsrt4. When you are trying to start your motor, do you sometimes get nothing from the ignition, or does the engine turn over but not start?

YES YES YES! I've been out of the boat scene for a while but I picked up this little runabout for a decent price and I cannot get this engine to start consistently. One day it will, next day no spark, and on occasion no crank (but I suspect battey issue). When engine does start it seems to accelerate and idle smooth. It appears to be completely stock.

 

[taurus1977]

Re: 1971 Johnson 60hp ignition problems

I thought I would I post an update, after putting the new amplifier on the boat has started everytime I turn the key. So hopefully the problem had been resolved.

I will be installing a new amplifier this week. I have a 1970 Evinrude 60hp. I'm confused about the black wire to the points plate arm. It's just a ground correct?

MOD EDIT: Please review the forum rule about posting to old threads and feel free to post a new thread with your relevant information.