1984 johnson timing problem

jimcon

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I just purchased a 1984 johnson 115 hp that did not run. I checked the fuel pump anc carbs and all were good and clean. When I checked the timing it was 180 deg out on the timing. Is there anyway to correct this? jimcon:confused:
 

Joe Reeves

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Re: 1984 johnson timing problem

What procedure did you use to check the timing?
 

jimcon

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Re: 1984 johnson timing problem

I just purchased a 1984 johnson 115 hp that did not run. I checked the fuel pump anc carbs and all were good and clean. When I checked the timing it was 180 deg out on the timing. Is there anyway to correct this? jimcon:confused:

Hooked the motor up with the controls and battery. Cranked the motor with the controls and used a timing light. The flywheel and keyway checked and both ok. The TDC was checked with a guage and also checked ok. The timing light is somewhat new and is not a cheep one.
 

jimcon

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Re: 1984 johnson timing problem

Hooked up the timing light to the battery and the inductive connection to #1 spark plug wire. Turned over the motor with the control key switch and aimed the timing light to the pointer on the motor. Found the timing 180 deg from the 4 deg pick up. That is on the oposite side of the flywheel timing marks. Any suggestions will be helpful. Thanks
 

boobie

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Re: 1984 johnson timing problem

Tell me this, is #1 cyl on the port side or stbd side of the mtr ? And are you sure you have the timing lite attached to # 1 cyl ? Or maybe # 3 cyl ? And will your spark jump a 7/16 " open air gap ?
 

levi_tsk

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Re: 1984 johnson timing problem

i think your onto something there ^
itd be a simple mistake to hook it up to the wrong one i cant see how on earth youd get the timing 180 out i dont think the wires on the power packs are long enough-unless you put the timer base in wrong but that would be very apparrent as once again the wires would be too short
 

boobie

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Re: 1984 johnson timing problem

And one last stupid question, does the mtr run now or won't start???
 

emdsapmgr

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Re: 1984 johnson timing problem

If the coils were replaced, it is easy to hook the coils up incorrectly when the contact pin is reinserted into the rubber coil connector. The orange wire with the blue tracer goes to the top coils, and the solid orange wire feeds the bottom coils. It's possible that #1 and #3 coil wires are switched.
 

Joe Reeves

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Re: 1984 johnson timing problem

Standing in back of the engine, facing the spark plugs, the cylinders are numbered as follows. Timing light attaches to #1.

2.....1
4.....3

(Timing At Cranking Speed 4?)
(J. Reeves)

NOTE: If your engine has the "Fast Start" feature", you must disconnect/eliminate that feature in order to use the following method. The "Fast Start" automatically advances the spark electronically when the engine first starts, dropping it to normal when the engine reaches a certain temperture.

The full spark advance can be adjusted without have the engine running at near full throttle as follows.

To set the timing on that engine, have the s/plugs out, and have the throttle at full, set that timer base under the flywheel tight against the rubber stop on the end of the full spark timer advance stop screw (wire it against that stop if necessary).

Hook up the timing light to the #1 plug wire. Crank the engine over and set the spark advance to 4? less than what the engine calls for.

It's a good idea to ground the other plug wires to avoid sparks that could ignite fuel that may shoot out of the plug holes. I've personally never grounded them out and have never encountered a problem (fire) but it could happen.

I don't know the full spark advance setting your engine calls for, but to pick a figure, say your engine calls for 28?, set the timing at 24?. The reasoning for the 4? difference is that when the engine is actually running, due to the nature of the solid state ignition componets, the engine gains the extra 4?.

If you set the engine to its true setting at cranking speed, when running it will advance beyond its limit by 4? which will set up pre-ignition causing guaranteed piston damage! You don't want that to take place.

No need to be concerned about the idle timing as that will take care of itself. The main concern is the full advance setting.

Be sure to use your own engines spark advance settings, not the one I picked out of the air here in my notes.
 
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