Johnson '70 40HP New solenoid but still not engaging flywheel

[Hoochymama]

Please help!! Restoring my dad's 1970 Boston Whaler Trophy and his 1970 Johnson 1970 40 HP outboard Model# 40ELS 70A. Trying to get it done for father's day. I memory of kind of thing. Almost done with the boat. Not that hard. He took pretty good care of that baby. The motor on the other hand sat for a few years after he passed.

We got the starter to engage the flywheel a few times by tapping tires together from the faded harness wires to figure out what was what. Everything had been cut for transport from GA to IL. ARG!! Then because the key had been lost we decided to switch to push button start. The old solenoid stopped engaging. Bypassed the buttons and still nothing. The electric choke button works, but when you us a light to test electric current, you had it going into the solenoid on the battery side post (light on) on the side that you connect to the starter no current (light off) and on the small terminals on top we had the light come on for both (one is starter switch and one is ground). 3 out of 4 lights

We replaced the solenoid and now get 2 out of 4 lights when testing the solenoid. The battery slide of the solenoid lights, large terminal and the starter switch on top which is a small terminal lights. Even when you bridge the small terminals they do not light. ARG!

Tried to do something with the neutral safety switch but everything I read just seems to be grounding it out and not really making a circuit. I have even read that my motor is not supposed to have this switch and that this switch should be in my remote control box but it is right there on my engine, right under my flywheel. It is first grounded to the cut-out switch.

You can see the blowout diagrams of my exact motor here if this helps to help me. http://www.boats.net/parts/search/BRP/JOHNSON/1970/40ESL70A 1970/parts.html

Thank you in advance. At this point I am helpless and hopeless and a bit dehydrated from the lack of boating and how inland I am feeling. Please help me and my girls get back on the water again.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Johnson '70 40HP New solenoid but still not engaging flywheel

What are you probing with the negative (ground) side of your test light? Engine block or battery (-)?

When you say it lighted for the solenoid ground terminal, what was the other test light probe attached to? Did it light with the key turned to "off"? to "run"? to "start"?

When you bridge the two small terminals, with the key in the "start" position, and get no light, it could be due to the fact that current is flowing "through" the solenoid, therefore bypassing the test light ("path of least resistance"). There would still be a small current in your test light, just not enough to visibly illuminate it.

If this is the case, and the solenoid doesn't engage with an audible "click", then I'm going to theorize that you have voltage coming through the keyswitch, but not enough voltage. Either a connection in the circuit is dropping too much voltage, or else the battery needs recharging (or maybe replacing).

Have you thought about maybe trading in the test light for a mulitmeter? It might help to have the voltage measurements.

 

[Jet Wrench]

Re: Johnson '70 40HP New solenoid but still not engaging flywheel

You need to check all of your engine grounds. Motors that are this old, either used on fresh or salt water, will eventually have corroded ground terminals or studs. Remove and clean (burnish) all of your connections! Could even be your control wiring not making the trip to the solenoid. Check for loose connections. Process of elimination at this point.

Jet Wrench

 

[Hoochymama]

Re: Johnson '70 40HP New solenoid but still not engaging flywheel

OK - on my way to get a multimeter. Also going to check all the grounds. Then I will let you guys know. Thanks.

To JTexas - I am grounding to the engine block. Also, I changed out the old key ignition for a push button start ignition so I can't answer your question about does the light come on when the key is in the off, on or start position. I test the light when I hit the push button start ignition.

Thanks again for the info. I will let you know.

When I replaced the solenoid they sold me one that goes in an old Ford truck. They said it would work. Are they correct? They look exactly the same.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Johnson '70 40HP New solenoid but still not engaging flywheel

The ford solenoid ought to work just fine...I'd be a little skeptical that it'll be as durable as one made for marine use.

First thing with your new multimeter, measure the voltage across the battery terminals. If you get less than 12.65 volts, recharge it before continuing (or "borrow" another battery).

If you don't get voltage when using the engine block as ground, move your negative lead to the battery negative post and try again; this will rule out a bad ground connection.

96.3% of boat electrical problems are caused by corrosion/loose connections. [and 78.1% of all statistics are made up on the spot, but you get the idea]

Hint: sandpaper works just fine for cleaning electrical connections -- they need to be bright and tight.

 

[Hoochymama]

Re: Johnson '70 40HP New solenoid but still not engaging flywheel

It was a grounding problem. I also found out that my original solenoid was good and the NEW replacement (ford) solenoid was bad. Go figure.

Now should I just add the gas mixture, crank her up and then test the compression? Someone told me to use seafoam.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Johnson '70 40HP New solenoid but still not engaging flywheel

Seafoam is good stuff, I add an ounce to each gallon.

Read the thread on "awakening a sleeping outboard" in the Engine FAQ section of iboats for some good tips.

 

[Hoochymama]

Re: Johnson '70 40HP New solenoid but still not engaging flywheel

Awesome, thanks. I will do just that. I am so excited I can hardly stand it!!!

If this motor cranks right up and the compression is right I will probably pee myself!!

That is probably why you don't see to many female mechanics.

Thanks again for the the help!!!

 

[F_R]

Re: Johnson '70 40HP New solenoid but still not engaging flywheel

A Ford Solenoid is NOT, NOT, the same thing as what belongs on there. The two small terminals serve a different purpose. In fact, attempting to use one will almost always destroy the safety switch. I'm surprised that yours still works. Or did you defeat it?

 

[Hoochymama]

Re: Johnson '70 40HP New solenoid but still not engaging flywheel

Luckily the Ford Solenoid was bad. The store confirmed this. I have installed the old one original solenoid because it turns out that we had a grounding issue.

The starting is engaging the flywheel now but I did remove the safety neutral button because the way it was wired it was not completing a circuit anyway. It way being bypassed anyway.

I hooked up the gas tank and to get the gal running to test the compression and she is not turning over. What I do get the the flywheel turning and the prop turning and then gas dripping out of the carburetor vent cover.

I did notice that the carburetor valve needle needs to be replaced but would that keep the engine from running? I know that it would keep it from running smooth. But not cranking?

Any idea why I am not cranking at this point?