77 Johnson Javalin starting issue

[diastiss]

Hey guys,

I know my first post here, i've searched the forums but didn't find a specific answer to my specific problem :/

I'm having a problem with starting. took the boat out a few times with no issues. Tried turning over with the key and nothing happens, no click. I took a small wire and jumped from the battery to the terminal right about the battery hookup on the soleniod and it turns over the starter, starts up and runs fine. i can kill the motor with the key once started. I clean all terminal ends. Took apart the key switch and tested with ohm tester, everything checks out on the switch. The only question with the switch is that it only gets 8.3 volts at the "b" terminal, normal?

Before i go and spend money on a new starter solenoid (which looks brand new btw) is the soleniod assumed working if you can jump start it like i explained earlier? I jumped from the battery to the B on the key switch with battery volts and it won't start still.

I have a johnson book for my motor and i've done all the checklist, but i'm still kinda confused. I also opened up the throttle box and i could not find a fuse, it just goes straight from the "b" terminal on the keyswitch to the red harness connector in the motor. Where is this fuse?


THanks in advance.

 

[bktheking]

Re: 77 Johnson Javalin starting issue

The B terminal goes directly to the battey, check the connection going to the positive side and negative for ground, you may have corrosion on your leads. Once that is clean, disconnect the ground on the battery and remove the wire going to the B terminal on the switch and test again once you reconnect the ground without the wire from the battery touching anything(trying to prevent you from making your own fireworks show here) . If you still don't get 12 volts going to the B terminal you have a fuse holder/wiring problem going to the switch or the switch is bad. The fuse may be a wire coming off the battery seperate or in a fuse box at mounted to the stern of the boat.

 

[bktheking]

Re: 77 Johnson Javalin starting issue

Just another thought, your boat might also have a neutral safety or a lanyard switch causing a problem, investigate the 8v issue first.

 

[diastiss]

Re: 77 Johnson Javalin starting issue

the neutral safety is the little plunger switch in the throttle box? and what's a laynard?

 

[bktheking]

Re: 77 Johnson Javalin starting issue

Lanyard is the switch on the outside of the control box , some have and some don't. Usually you have to clip the lanyard over the switch and the other part to your body, if you are thrown overboard the plastic comes off the switch and kills the engine.

 

[diastiss]

Re: 77 Johnson Javalin starting issue

oh yea i don't have that. i'm gonna try to investigate the switch next, seems very likely since it was working fine, then not the next day. I noticed before when i took apart the remote control box that their seemed to be two clips going into the switch before, i'll clean those up. might be the reason for the voltage drop. I ran a separate wire straight from the batter to the B terminal that had battery voltage on it before, but it still didn't start. was that worthless due to the circuitry involved?

 

[bktheking]

Re: 77 Johnson Javalin starting issue

DId you test the B wire without it being connected to the switch?

 

[diastiss]

Re: 77 Johnson Javalin starting issue

yea, 8 volts

 

[bktheking]

Re: 77 Johnson Javalin starting issue

You should have 12 volts, inspect the wiring and fuse going to that wire.

 

[diastiss]

Re: 77 Johnson Javalin starting issue

i know i'm digging up an old thread, but i got it figured out in case anyone else ran into the same problem. I couldn't find my fuse on the motor and finally found it by looking up the wiring harness diagram from my book. it was right in front of me! it was just a 30a small fuse causing my problem!

thanks for all the help