Newbie With Questions On Johnson 50hp

livin4real

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 22, 2009
Messages
167
I'm brand spankin' new to the boat "owners" world now (always had one just didn't have to work on it, lol). I just bought a 93' Monark Pontoon with a 50hp Johnson on it for $900. The boat was actually in pretty good shape and he fired up the engine for me and revved it up, checked lights yada, yada. So I get it home and being the project loving guy I am, I proceed to strip it bare to the toons and do a complete refurb. After I had got everything off but the console I realized I only have one cable going from the throttle/shifter to the engine. So I started searching on here lastnight and found a mention of the wire shifter. So as I follow the pigtail from the throttle/shifter to the engine I find it has been cut off and is not connected to anything. The guy did tell me he had bought the Johnson seperate from the boat and installed a new ignition which I did find was wired seperately from the pigtail. So now my obvious concern is I only have one cable and no wire so it's not possible it's shifting from forward to reverse is it? I did take the cowl off the engine and watch as I moved the stick forward to reverse and I do see two different mechanisms moving on the engine. ( I'm new remember) It moves about a 2" diameter spindle at the back of the engine which along with that has a plate toward the front that moves a little 1/4" roller that appears to operate the throttle. Did Johnson make an older engine that only required one cable to do both without a wire switch? I'm at work now and will get pics in the morning. I will also get a model from the engine and post it. I know I haven't given you guys much to work with but I'm scared I'm looking at a big repair bill. I do still have the complete original pigtail, it's just cut in half for some reason and not plugged in.
Thanks,
Brian
 

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
51,019
Re: Newbie With Questions On Johnson 50hp

i have an 1988 Monark toon. with a 2004 50hp Johnson. need more infor on the motor, also the pics will help. yes there were motors built with just throttle, and electric shift, 1972 and before.
 

livin4real

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 22, 2009
Messages
167
Re: Newbie With Questions On Johnson 50hp

The number on the disk on top of the engine is E3465416 and the cover of the engine says Hydro-Electric Drive on it. So I'm guessing since he cut the old pig-tail off to run a new ignition he cut the magic wires to shift it?
 

livin4real

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 22, 2009
Messages
167
Re: Newbie With Questions On Johnson 50hp

I found some more numbers on the transom clamp.

50ESL71 S

Hope that helps.
 

kenmyfam

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 10, 2006
Messages
14,392
Re: Newbie With Questions On Johnson 50hp

I make it a 50hp 1971 Electric start 20 inch shaft.
 

livin4real

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 22, 2009
Messages
167
Re: Newbie With Questions On Johnson 50hp

Can anyone tell me if it is a two cable system or electric shift?
 
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