ward cleaver
Petty Officer 2nd Class
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2007
- Messages
- 174
I just bought a boat with a 1961 Johnson 40hp electric start outboard. Since the outboard wouldn't even turn over before I bought it, I valued it at near zero. It hadn't been run in a couple of years. When I got it home at first the starter wouldn't engage the flywheel, just a clunk from the solenoid. I checked the connections noted in the manual, then decided the battery needed a boost so I hooked up the charger, put it on "quick start" and turned the key. (Later, in another section, I read in the manual that doing that could damage the ignition system!)
After a few hesitant tries, it finally got to where it turns over just fine now but does not fire. I've got (fresh) gas to the spark plugs, but when I checked for spark by holding the spark plug (with wire attached) to the block (painted part, could not reach a clean part) I got no blue spark as noted in the manual. So I presume the problem is under the flywheel with the ignition system.
1) Did I damage any ignition parts by using the charger to boost the battery while starting it?
2) I am reasonably handy with a wrench but have never worked on outboards. From my quick investigation, it appears that I could face some risk of damage if I try to pull the flywheel, do the repairs and then put it back together and try to get it running. I have a puller and a torque wrench but I don't want to risk damaging an otherwise sound engine (at least I think it is sound but I don't have a compression gauge). Should I take a swing at repairing it myself?
3) I expect taking it to a repair shop could easily run up a bill for more than the outboard is worth. True?
4) What about parting it out? Think I can get more for it as it is or could I get more by selling the parts on ebay?
I'm really interested in what you folks might have to suggest as to what course of action to take.
After a few hesitant tries, it finally got to where it turns over just fine now but does not fire. I've got (fresh) gas to the spark plugs, but when I checked for spark by holding the spark plug (with wire attached) to the block (painted part, could not reach a clean part) I got no blue spark as noted in the manual. So I presume the problem is under the flywheel with the ignition system.
1) Did I damage any ignition parts by using the charger to boost the battery while starting it?
2) I am reasonably handy with a wrench but have never worked on outboards. From my quick investigation, it appears that I could face some risk of damage if I try to pull the flywheel, do the repairs and then put it back together and try to get it running. I have a puller and a torque wrench but I don't want to risk damaging an otherwise sound engine (at least I think it is sound but I don't have a compression gauge). Should I take a swing at repairing it myself?
3) I expect taking it to a repair shop could easily run up a bill for more than the outboard is worth. True?
4) What about parting it out? Think I can get more for it as it is or could I get more by selling the parts on ebay?
I'm really interested in what you folks might have to suggest as to what course of action to take.