NO SPARK ON 4 STROKE JOHNSON 115 HORSE POWER 80S MODEL

[allenh60]

Hi. I have a 115 horse power Johnson out board 80s model. It has been running fine. took it out last weekend and it ran fine. took it out this weekend and it won't crank. It turns over smooth but does'nt even try to crank. Checked the spark plugs, at first 1 sparked but the next one did'nt, the checked the 1 that did spark and it did'nt spark any more. Checked the gas line. All was fine there. Asked a friend and he said it is the thing under the fly wheel that tells the plugs when and in what order to spark. I can't remember the name of the thing he said I will need to replace. Plus I don't even know how to take the fly wheel off or where to get that part. HELP PLEASE.

 

[ledgefinder]

Re: NO SPARK ON 4 STROKE JOHNSON 115 HORSE POWER 80S MODEL

Welcome to iBoats.<br /><br />The thing under the flywheel is the timer base, and it has sensors that tell the powerpack when to fire. However, that would not be my first guess, so let's go one step at a time.<br /><br />You mean the electric starter turns the motor, when you turn the key, but there is no spark at any of the plugs, right?

 

[allenh60]

Re: NO SPARK ON 4 STROKE JOHNSON 115 HORSE POWER 80S MODEL

Right. None of the plugs spark and I did the thing where you hold the screw driver in the plug wire and hold it close to metal and the wire did'nt spark either. I took the whole gas line off to see if it was clogged, it was'nt. It costs so much money to put it in the shop around here and I ca'nt afford it. I was hoping for it to be something simple enough for me to do myself.

 

[JB]

Re: NO SPARK ON 4 STROKE JOHNSON 115 HORSE POWER 80S MODEL

It probably is something simple enough to do yourself, Allen.<br /><br />First, establish the year of the engine. Posting the model number here will take care of that.<br /><br />Second, get a Service Manual. That will provide instructions for troubleshooting your ignition system.<br /><br />We will be here to answer specific questions that may come up in the troubleshooting and repair phase.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[ledgefinder]

Re: NO SPARK ON 4 STROKE JOHNSON 115 HORSE POWER 80S MODEL

As JB says, we probably also need to verify the year of the motor. Please post back with the model number, which you'll find on a tag or sticker on the port transom clamp. The V4s had a number of different ignitions over the years. <br /><br />It would be smart to get/borrow a manual, but we can probably provide info to do some preliminary diagnosis. From about 1978 up, the V4s had dual powerpacks (one per bank of cylinders), and it's unlikely that yours failed both simultaneously. Might be the stator overheating - that provides juice for the ignition. Can you see any melting/dripping insulation if you look up under the flywheel. Can you get your hands on an ohmmeter?

 

[allenh60]

Re: NO SPARK ON 4 STROKE JOHNSON 115 HORSE POWER 80S MODEL

No it does'nt seem like anything is melting. It does'nt even seem to get hot at all. Even when it was running it never seemed to get hot. It sucks alot of water up and spits it out in 2 different places. A stream shoots straight down from the bottom of 1 side and it has 2 holes on back of the motor where it shoots out as well.I will try to go get the model # and/or exact year off of it today. The book for it is 32.00. I don't have that right this minute.

 

[ledgefinder]

Re: NO SPARK ON 4 STROKE JOHNSON 115 HORSE POWER 80S MODEL

The stator can overheat even if the motor stays cool, so you want to look up under the flywheel at it. <br /><br />Really not much we can do, as far as diagnosis, without an ohmmeter.

 

[Chum Slick]

Re: NO SPARK ON 4 STROKE JOHNSON 115 HORSE POWER 80S MODEL

Does your boat have a kill switch and if so have you checked to see if it has been actuated/popped out? That is one of the few items that will kill spark to all four plugs at the same time.

 

[allenh60]

Re: NO SPARK ON 4 STROKE JOHNSON 115 HORSE POWER 80S MODEL

I'm not real sure where the kill switch would be other than the ignition itself. I just recently put a new harness on that allows me to turn the engine off with the key.

 

[Chum Slick]

Re: NO SPARK ON 4 STROKE JOHNSON 115 HORSE POWER 80S MODEL

Take it to a reputable mechanic...

 

[greg r]

Re: NO SPARK ON 4 STROKE JOHNSON 115 HORSE POWER 80S MODEL

disconnect the black and yellow wire at the key switch,hold it between your thumb and forefinger,it should fire right up!