No Starter contact 15hp Johnson

clydelottie

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Joined
Jul 3, 2003
Messages
11
Have a 15 hp johson 1987 J15ecud with electric starter. No action when I push the starter button. My meter shows power to the distribution board and on to one side of the switch operated by the gear shift. Can't find curent beyond that - even when I conected both wires to the hot side in an effort to by pass the switch. Whats happening? Is the problem in the switch?
 

The Marine Doctor

Commander
Joined
Jul 25, 2003
Messages
2,177
Re: No Starter contact 15hp Johnson

Send 12 volts directly to the small post on the solenoid.<br /><br />Does it turn over the engine?<br /><br />Send 12 volts directly to the starter.<br /><br />Does it turn over?<br /><br />Let me know the results.<br /><br />TMD
 

clydelottie

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Joined
Jul 3, 2003
Messages
11
Re: No Starter contact 15hp Johnson

Got manual from library but didn't show how to remove the starter (it's mounted vertically) so cant get to contacts on the starter. When I conected the wire from ( I though it was from the starter) one side of the switch to the same contact on the switch as the wire from the distrbution board I thought I was sending 12V to the starter. My meter showed no current. Soon as I unconected the wire to the starter I had current back to the one side of the switch.
 

OBJ

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 27, 2002
Messages
10,161
Re: No Starter contact 15hp Johnson

Hi ya' Homesteader...<br /><br />The switch you are referring to is the start in neutral switch. This prevents starting the engine while in gear.<br /><br />Here are a couple things to try.<br /><br />With the engine hooked up normally, take a screwdriver and push down on the button on the start in neutral sw. If no action, connect a volt meter to the side of the sw. that is going to the starter. Red lead to the sw., the black lead to ground. Push the starter button. If no voltage is read on the meter, replace the start in neutral sw.<br /><br />In order to get the starter off, you must remove the flywheel in order to get the one bolt out. <br /><br />Let us know what ya' find. Thanks.
 

clydelottie

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Joined
Jul 3, 2003
Messages
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Re: No Starter contact 15hp Johnson

To Marine Doctor and outboard Jim, There is no voltage going to the stater side of the start in neutral switch. So I'll try a new switch. Hope local store has one.<br />I'm still wondering why , when I fasten the lead from the distribution board directly to the lead to the starter, (removing the start in neutral switch)I lose the voltage? Can't even read any voltage at the contact on the distribution board and the starter still shows no life. Why is that?
 

OBJ

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 27, 2002
Messages
10,161
Re: No Starter contact 15hp Johnson

Homesteader.....got a question here....<br /><br />Before the battery cable reaches the start switch, is it held against the side of one of the transom brackets by a metal retainer? If it is, hold the start switch in and try moving the cable around in this area. The battery cables have a tendency to eventually break when they are clamped down at the transom bracket.
 

clydelottie

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Joined
Jul 3, 2003
Messages
11
Re: No Starter contact 15hp Johnson

Found problem. Croded ground cable conector letting through enough votage to test (most of the time)but not enough to kick the started.<br /> Thanks for the help.
 
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