1991 Johnson 60 HP not getting spark?

[catfishhoward]

I have a 1991 Johnson 60 HP TJ60TLEIB and I'm not getting any spark to the 3 plugs. I have a meter but don't know what to test to see what is wrong. The starter acts up sometimes, but hitting it with the paddle always gets it working. I put the meter on the positive and tested the grounds that I could find so I think the grounds are all good. I have a new starting battery. Since it's all 3 plugs could it be the power pack? Could anyone tell me how to test the power pack or anything else that might be wrong? I hope not to have to pull the fly wheel until I have checked everything else.

I've numbered all the wire on the pictures since I don't know the common names.

 

[racerone]

First thing I would do is take the starter apart for inspection !-----Not good to hit those starters with a hard object.

 

[catfishhoward]

First thing I would do is take the starter apart for inspection !-----Not good to hit those starters with a hard object.

yeah I hate hitting it but it seems like I buy a new starter every damn year I'm getting tired of it. I ran a jumper cable from the + battery straight over to the starter to bypass my switch that way I can see the spark at the plug. Also my starter seems to work when I do that with a jumper cable?

 

[flyingscott]

Nothing on that strip has anything to do with spark. Have you got a factory manual? Get one if you don't

 

[racerone]

Little steps to take ---Understand that 12 volts from the battery has nothing to do with the spark.----Spark is made with a " fast spinning " flywheel.

 

[catfishhoward]

Nothing on that strip has anything to do with spark. Have you got a factory manual? Get one if you don't

I was going to download one online but it was for just a Johnson like 10 year range not necessarily my model I guess I need to keep looking around to find the exact one. Even if I had a manual I still wouldn't know what to check but I realized it would tell me what the ohms ranges should be. Do the manuals usually have troubleshooting for completely no spark and does it show you the process of finding what's wrong?

 

[catfishhoward]

Little steps to take ---Understand that 12 volts from the battery has nothing to do with the spark.----Spark is made with a " fast spinning " flywheel.

I just wanted to throw that in so people knew I had a new battery that flywheel was spinning fast to create a spark.

 

[flyingscott]

I was going to download one online but it was for just a Johnson like 10 year range not necessarily my model I guess I need to keep looking around to find the exact one. Even if I had a manual I still wouldn't know what to check but I realized it would tell me what the ohms ranges should be. Do the manuals usually have troubleshooting for completely no spark and does it show you the process of finding what's wrong?

Yes got to https://www.outboardbooks.com/ That is a factory manual save your money and do not buy seloc or clymer. One question is the safety lanyard on?

 

[catfishhoward]

Yes got to https://www.outboardbooks.com/ That is a factory manual save your money and do not buy seloc or clymer. One question is the safety lanyard on?

What's a safety lanyard? If that's the kill switch next to the key and steering wheel my boat doesn't have one

 

[flyingscott]

Put up a pic of your control box. Anything as new as your motor should have one. Unless it is using an older box.

 

[catfishhoward]

Put up a pic of your control box. Anything as new as your motor should have one. Unless it is using an older box.

Where is the control box located? I pretty much took pictures of all electrical wires around the motor

 

[flyingscott]

The control box is where the shifting occurs. Should have a big handle sticking out of it by the steering wheel

 

[racerone]

??------The control box is the thingy with the throttle lever up by the steering wheel.----Or is this a tiller motor ?----If it is a tiller motor it should have a kill switch lanyard on the steering handle.

 

[catfishhoward]

Yes got to https://www.outboardbooks.com/ That is a factory manual save your money and do not buy seloc or clymer. One question is the safety lanyard on?

This one doesn't match the model number exact but I guess it's probably it. do I need the owner manual or just the service manual?

 

[racerone]

How did this motor run for you last season ?

 

[catfishhoward]

The control box is where the shifting occurs. Should have a big handle sticking out of it by the steering wheel

I'll have to get a picture tomorrow I don't have the boat where I'm at now. I do have that by the steering wheel but could that actually be causing no spark even though my flywheel is spinning?

 

[catfishhoward]

How did this motor run for you last season ?

It was always a little hard to start but it always ran fine. I took it to a marina to see if they could get it to crank more easily and run smoother they said I had water in the gas at that time. I got it back and it drove worse one trip, next trip out it just would not crank.

 

[racerone]

These motors are not hard to start if in good condition.----Perhaps post compression test numbers too.----If the safety lanyard is not installed correctly there will be no spark.-----Owners manual may be in your future.-----If this is your first boat perhaps have a shop or friend coach you on the operation of a boat motor.

 

[catfishhoward]

Most of the things I've read online said it could be the power pack or something under the flywheel?

 

[flyingscott]

Have you done a spark check? Does spark jump 7/16" air gap. The factory manual will tell you how to test all this. A spark tester will cost $10 and looking to see if the lanyard is attached is free. A power pack that may or may not be bad will cost over $100. Your choice.