Johnson 70 HP Won't Start

I have a 1977 Johnson 70 HP on my boat & when I went to start it, it would not turn over. I pulled the cover & when trying to start the flywheel moves 1 notch & does not even begin to attempt to turn over. It sounds like a dead battery but my charger shows fully charged, could it still be dead?

Re: Johnson 70 HP Won't Start

Bad connections are a major cause of this issue. Clean and inspect all the connections and look for any damage to the cables. Shiny connections are good.

Re: Johnson 70 HP Won't Start

Check electrical system, check voltage to starter. If all is good, remove plugs and see if it will spin over. Has motor been sitting for a long time, can you turn the flywheel by hande?

Re: Johnson 70 HP Won't Start

you might have to grease up the shaft on your starter, mine did something similiar earlier in the year.

Re: Johnson 70 HP Won't Start

1977, due new battery cables.

90% of starter problems are bad connections. remove and clean both ends of the battery cables, so that they are shiney, also the cable from the solenoid to starter. check for nicks in the cables. and make sure the connectors are on the wire good. the cable tend to corrode from the inside out, if nicked, corroded wires, and connections, heat up and cause resistance to the follow of electricity, thus the starter doesn't get enough. you can also take jumper cable pos battery post to large post on starter. with a good connection, the engine should spin. then if the starter is good clean everything and retest. then trouble shoot solenoid. starters can be rebuit at a starter/alternator shop, much cheaper than a new one.

also have the battery load tested at the auto parts store, free, i've had new batteries go bad