Johnson Power Pack

[willno]

I have a 1997, 40 HP Johnson that loses all spark from time to time. Sometime it works great and will crank right up while other times it just will not fire (no spark). I suspect that the power pack is bad since I've checked the ground circuit (black/yellow wire) and I've checked the resistance on the ignition coils and sensor coils. I thought that these electornic power packs either worked are they don't. Is it unusual for one to work sometime and not work other times. It seems to stop working after it sets up for a week or so. Has anyone seen this type of problem before? Thanks.

 

[F_R]

Re: Johnson Power Pack

I have a 1997, 40 HP Johnson that loses all spark from time to time. Sometime it works great and will crank right up while other times it just will not fire (no spark). I suspect that the power pack is bad since I've checked the ground circuit (black/yellow wire) and I've checked the resistance on the ignition coils and sensor coils. I thought that these electornic power packs either worked are they don't. Is it unusual for one to work sometime and not work other times. It seems to stop working after it sets up for a week or so. Has anyone seen this type of problem before? Thanks.

So the problem appears after sitting a week and is limited to starting? I would suspect slow cranking or weak stator. They will not spark if not cranked fast enough or not receiving enough voltage from the stator. Next time it does that, remove the spark plugs (so it cranks faster) and see if it has spark.

A agree, the pacs either work or they don't----usually.

 

[willno]

Re: Johnson Power Pack

I have checked it with the plugs out and still no spark. I have a new battery and it spins pretty good. I have two used power packs and I have been able to get it started by swapping out the power pack but after setting a week it does the same thing again.

 

[jhebert]

Re: Johnson Power Pack

Check your Safety Lanyard. Check the KILL switch circuit.

 

[willno]

Re: Johnson Power Pack

I have checked the kill switch circuit. It is not shorted and this motor does not have a safety lanyard.

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Johnson Power Pack

Once it loses spark after a week how do you get it started? Have you checked an cleaned all connection? Are all the ground connections on bare metal? Weird symtoms. I would unplug the kill circuit until you get it solved. Guess you could go out and start it every 6 days.

 

[willno]

Re: Johnson Power Pack

I've been able to get it started by swapping the power pack. It seems the pack that would not work before works after setting up for a week. I don't know if something in the power pack is restoring itself after setting up or if just pluging and unpluging the connections is making the difference. I have cleaned the connections and put electrical grease on them and checked the grounds. I have not upluged the black/yellow kill wire but I have ohmed it out and it is not shorted to ground.