Re: '73 Johnson 40Hp charging circuit, should there be one?
Heck, 40RL73 isn't even electric start. If it has a starter, somebody has added an electric starting kit.
A generator would be another kit. If it has one, it looks similar to the starter and sits on the opposite side of the carburetor. It is driven by a belt off the flywheel. The generator will not drive a tachometer if that is what you want to do. It is a DC generator, tachometers require an AC alternator.
Now somebody will come along and point out that the DC generator only puts out 10 amps. So??? Most alternators put out 6 amps. Some even less. Yes it is true that the generator doesn't charge at all at idle speeds. Has to be running a bit above fast idle to kick in.