1988 Johnson spl28 Electrical Problems

[Miniyacht]

Hello, I recently aqquired a 1988 johnson spl28 its in great condition but is still not starting. I wired up the ignition switch but it seems there is something wrong. With the key in the engine turns over on the first click, not the second. Also, the choke primer does not seem to be activating. When I got the engine, there was no manual choke lever (red lever on top of the choke solenoid), but I got a new one, and maybe I put it in wrong . When the engine is turning over it doesnt seem to even want to start, compression is good, 120 in both cilynders. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks

 

[RCO]

Post which wire colors are going to each terminal on the ignition switch. Something isn't hooked up properly. Get that straightened out before you worry about the primer.

 

[jakedaawg]

In the sticky at top is a diagram of the key switch wire ing. You have the purple and the yellow/red (don't quote me) on the wrong post I believe.

It's more likely that you have the wrong switch though.

 

[Miniyacht]

Im not entirely sure how to post a picture, but ill tell you where i put the wires
On the flat "M" i have a black/green wire that goes to the kill switch.
On the S there is a yellow/red stripe wire going to the neutral safety switch then back to the main plug that goes to the engine.
On the "A" i have a solid purple wire that splits and goes to the buzzer and the tach plug.
On the second "M" with the post like all the other wires, i have a ground.
On the "B" i have a red, possibly with a purple stripe (very faint), that goes to the main plug that goes to the engine.
On the C there is a purple/white stripe that goes to the main plug.
Hope that helps, I will try to figure out how to post a picture, but for now that is what I got.
Thanks

 

[jakedaawg]

Do you have an oem wireing harness that has a large red plug connection inside the engine cowl?

 

[jakedaawg]

...

 

[oldboat1]

Your switch appears to be wired correctly.

Might check the solenoid - red/purple from the B terminal routes through a fuse to red, then to the solenoid large stud (battery side). The yellow/red from the S terminal becomes green/red to the small solenoid terminal.

Thinking maybe the solenoid red/purple might be incorrectly routed to the small terminal, with the green/red going to the large terminal. That might give you the starter connection in the first key position, and run in the second position.

(I'm looking at the mastertech diagram for '82-'83 electric start remote, 25-35hp., linked up at the top of the forum in the secret files. See what you think, compared to your '88 28.)

I'm not sure about the choke solenoid (purple/white from the C terminal to the solenoid). Maybe the solenoid is not properly grounded.

Cranking but not firing can be caused by a number of issues. Check for spark with an adjustable tester as a first step.

Hope this helps a little.

 

[Miniyacht]

Yes i have the large red plug in the engine bay. Also oldboat, I dont seem to be seeing any green/red wires maybe thats where the 82-83 is different from the 88. And what large/small terminals are you describing. Sorry if i seem a little clueless its my first boat in a while.

 

[oldboat1]

Disconnect the battery. See if you have continuity between the key switch B terminal and the large stud of the solenoid (battery side), then see if you have continuity between the S terminal to one of the small studs. If so, the wiring would appear to be correct.

 

[Miniyacht]

I have continuity between the "b" and the large stud, and the "s" and the small studs. I also checked the "c" to the primer and it is good as well. Im not really sure whats going on because its still turning over on the first click of the ignition

 

[oldboat1]

With the battery disconnected, you can test the solenoid --

Set your multimeter at Rx1K ohms. (When you touch the leads together, you should get 0.)

Test 1: Connect the leads to the large solenoid terminals. If you get a LOW reading, replace the solenoid.

Test 2: Test again with battery jumpers connected to the small terminals (should hear a click.) If you get a HIGH reading, replace the solenoid.

I think your solenoid might fail test 1, but not sure....

 

[Miniyacht]

So, i connected the meter to the large solednoid connecters (one leads to the battery and one leads to the starter, correct?) the meter didnt register anything i didnt try the second test. I thought if the solednoid was bad it wouldnt even turn over?

 

[oldboat1]

You should see a high reading on your ohmmeter in the first test. (The switch should be closed at that point.) If you have a spare solenoid, I would try it. Otherwise, imo the solenoid should be replaced.

 

[Miniyacht]

Sorry i havent been on in a while, ill see if i can pick up a new starter solenoid sometime this week

 

[Miniyacht]

Ok guys so today i checked for spark and there was none, after some reading we ended up disconnecting the kill switch, then it got spark. Both times we did not have the ground connected at all. We wanted to see if it would actually run so we brought out the trashcan and pumped the bulb but it wouldn't run so i moved the manual choke lever (red lever on top of e primer) i moved it 90 degrees counter clockwise and pumped the bulb again. I could actually see gas being squirted into the carb. Btw i still have the ignition problem with it cranking on the first click of the ignition switch. On the third try it started but then ran up to almost full throttle on its own, since there was no kill switch we had to disconnect the plug wires to get it to stop. At the end of the "run" there was unburnt fuel in our trashcan. I am not exactly sure where to start with getting everything started, but i know i need a kill switch now. So, ignition still cranking on the first click, and the pushing in of the key doesnt do anything. Im considering taking it to a mechanic as i dont think it would take very long to sort out the electrical problems. But i would still like to have the satifaction of doing it myself haha. Thanks guys

 

[Miniyacht]

Any tips?

 

[Miniyacht]

Anybody, now we're just trying to have it start and idle correctly. As i said before when the engine starts it immediatly revs up and we have to choke it out,not exactly sure what adjustment to make. Any help is appreciated . Thanks