Johnson 100 V4 Starting problem

BLMac

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Jul 27, 2009
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I have a 1979 V4 100 HP Johnson. This is my first boat and I bought it as a basket case. Had to put in a new starter and it looks like the guy replaced a few coils too. I got the starter in and tried to roll the engine over. It kicks against the starter pretty hard lending me to believe that either it is way too advanced or the firing order is wrong. I've pulled all of the plugs and have fire in each plug. I have the start lever on the control in the start position when I'm doing this as well. I think I need to get fresh fuel in it for one but I have to think that there is a timing issue as well. The coils, per bank, have a brown lead or a brown with blue stripe lead going to them respectively. Might someone know per cylinder which should fire which coil per side or cylinder number? I don't want to loose a new starter motor trying to guess my way through. Thank you for any input.
 
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emdsapmgr

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Dec 9, 2005
Messages
11,551
Re: Johnson 100 V4 Starting problem

You could have a plug wire reversed. Esp-check the color codes on the orange leads from the pack to the coils vs the factory diagram. You could also have a fractured flywheel key, causing the timing to be off.
 

BLMac

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Jul 27, 2009
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Re: Johnson 100 V4 Starting problem

I'll do both as you suggest. Thank you.
 

ezeke

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Sep 19, 2003
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12,532
Re: Johnson 100 V4 Starting problem

There should be one solid orange and one orange with blue from each powerpack to the amphenol plug. The orange with blue wires are for the top two cylinders #1 and #2.
 

BLMac

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Jul 27, 2009
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Re: Johnson 100 V4 Starting problem

I was quite amazed to find that when i pulled the flywheel there was absolutely no key at all. I marked the location of the flywheel to the crank before I took it off too. When I got the new key in, my marks were about 90 degrees off. It fired right up after the fix. I need to clean the carbs still but at least I know it hits on all 4 cylinders now. Thank you for the help. I'll note the wiring you mentioned as well just to be sure.
 
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