1987 Johnson 70HP will not start

[OLD BALD GUY]

"hi, This Normally Dependable Old Friend Has Decided Not To Start When I Turn The Ignition Key. Have Good Battery And Connections. Electric Choke/primer Clicks When I Push The Key And Turn, But No Starter Response. I Have The Control Box Open. I Checked And Cleaned The Wiring Connections For Corrosion. I Replaced The Ignition Switch. Bypassed The Solenoid With Jumper Wire Under Engine Cover And Starter Fired Fine. Replaced The Solenoid. Tranny Seems To Be In Neutral. Kill Switch Is In It's Normal Position. I'm $80 Into It Now And No Closer To Solution. What To Do Next?"

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: 1987 Johnson 70HP will not start

Welcome to Iboats!

Have you looked for the fuse? It should be inside a red rubber boot type connector near the starter solenoid..
Not familiar with that exact motor but its a shot..

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1987 Johnson 70HP will not start

if primer clicks, it is not the fuse. are you sure the wires are in the correct position on the solenoid. you can take a remote switch, connect to Pos cable on solenoid, and the small contact, on solenoid, this should activate the starter. if this works you either have a wire broken between control or something in controller.

 

[HybridMX6]

Re: 1987 Johnson 70HP will not start

And if you want to find the fuse, it's in the bottom right side of the pic above. It's the smaller one, not the huge red one.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1987 Johnson 70HP will not start

the fuse powers the ignition switch, the primer clicks, so the fuse has to be good.

 

[OLD BALD GUY]

Re: 1987 Johnson 70HP will not start

thanks for the responses! yes i am certain the fuse is good and that the polarity on the solenoid is correct. i had begun noticing this problem last summer, but it was so intermittent that i never paid much attention. i would just keep trying the key, fidgeting with the startup lever and the motor would turn over. the idea about the control box is interesting. i have looked at and cleaned the terminals to everything in there i can get to. what is the small cylindrical device positioned above the ignition switch and what does it do?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1987 Johnson 70HP will not start

don't recalled something above ignition. problem could be the neutral switch in the controller, they sometimes go bad, or stick, if it is stuck with the plunger in, it will not start.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: 1987 Johnson 70HP will not start

what is the small cylindrical device positioned above the ignition switch and what does it do?

That should be the warning horn that sounds when the motor is running hot.

I had a similar problem with my motor. I recently took the soloniod loose and disconnected each wire one at a time this way I wouldn't get confused on how it hooked back then I cleaned the wire ends with a dremel tool with a small wire brush, that buffed/cleaned up the wire ends really good. I believe my problem is solved now, the starter kicked in each time I tried to turn ignition on start.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: 1987 Johnson 70HP will not start

Oh and another suggestion. This will take 2 people, take a test light and check your power to your solonoid, you will half to have somebody at the ignition switch holding the key in the start position when testing the output on the solonoid.

 

[CRETE4U]

Re: 1987 Johnson 70HP will not start

Sounds like the neutral switch. Do you hear the solenoid click when you turn the switch? You can bridge the neutral switch to test.

 

[OLD BALD GUY]

Re: 1987 Johnson 70HP will not start

Feedback Is A Gift And You Guys Are Fantastic. Even Though The Spring Tension Seemed Right, It Was The Neutral Switch. And I Thought That Part Looked Like The Diaphragm For A Horn, But Since It's Never Sounded.............it Was My Good Fortune To Find This Site. Thanks Again To All Of You For The Help. The Trout Are Biting, And I'm Gone Fishing.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1987 Johnson 70HP will not start

congrats, appreciated the feedback.

 

[OLD BALD GUY]

Re: 1987 Johnson 70HP will not start

I'm Back Again. Since Bridging The Wires And Circumventing The Neutral Safety Switch, I Have No Luck Locating The Part. Can A Switch Be Adjusted? Should I Worry About Having Bypassed The Switch? The Motor Starts Fine And I Can Go Fishing, But Long Term I Should Do Better Than Put A Bandaid On It.

 

[CRETE4U]

Re: 1987 Johnson 70HP will not start

Old Bald Guy I'm sure you have this fixed by now, but just in case. The part number is Part Number: 0389265
Description: SW AY,NEUT START . You should be able to find it any place that sells Johnson and Evinrude parts.