1991 johnson outboard starter/trim quits

[Kaili]

1991 115hp vro outboard starts and runs great. After a few hours fishing/running/trimming, the starter goes dead and the trim stops working. Here is what has been done to date.

-Vro pump removed/replaced with electric fuel pump/pressure regulator
-New trim motor
-New ignition switch
-New small 20 amp trim fuse
-Wiring/connections all good

Also, the failure is preceded by a low level hot horn whining

 

[boobie]

Re: 1991 johnson outboard starter/trim quits

Sounds like bad battery, battery cables or connections.

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: 1991 johnson outboard starter/trim quits

Agree, sounds like a bad electrical connection. Mostly like a bad fuse- but you replaced it. Pull the new fuse out and check the connections inside both ends of the rubber fuse holder. Sometimes they get crudded up and won't transfer current properly through the fuse itself.

 

[Kaili]

Re: 1991 johnson outboard starter/trim quits

Sounds like bad battery, battery cables or connections.

New optima batteries, new cables, and new 20 amp wire/fuse holder. Trim/start will return to normal for no obvious reason.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: 1991 johnson outboard starter/trim quits

-Vro pump removed/replaced with electric fuel pump/pressure regulator

Did you provide for a way to automatically kill the fuel pump in case of an emergency? Something that doesn't count on you actually remembering to turn off a switch - 'cause if you've got a fire or some other issue you're not gonna' remember (and the fuel pump will keep right on pumping gasoline to feed the fire). At a minimum run through a fuel pump relay that's controlled by your safety lanyard/kill switch.

As far as your starter and trim issue, one thing that comes to mind is possibly a corroded wire going to that 20 A fuse.