1972 85 HP Johnson won't start

[mattm0000]

I am having some trouble with a recently purchased 85 hp Johnson, it turns over but I am not getting any spark. Any body have any suggestions?

 

[MGuckin]

Re: 1972 85 HP Johnson won't start

How did you determine you had no spark? Did the motor ever run?

 

[mattm0000]

Re: 1972 85 HP Johnson won't start

It did run, or so I am told, it turns over, no spark. The coil and amplifier have both been replaced and the points have been checked. I thought about the neutral safety switch, but I can't find it and I have no idea what else it could be.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: 1972 85 HP Johnson won't start

don't mean to be a twit, but it sounds like you are assuming there is no spark. If so, you need to confirm that. I use a special little plug that outboard racers use (or so I was told), but you can check by grounding the side of a plug to the powerhead and cranking the engine while looking to see if there is a spark. Wear gloves because you can get one nasty shock. Thing is, you really need to know for sure whether there is spark before proceeding further.

 

[mattm0000]

Re: 1972 85 HP Johnson won't start

I have already confirmed it has no spark at all, I checked the plugs firs thing to be sure, before I started with evreything else.

 

[Franki]

Re: 1972 85 HP Johnson won't start

You motor is a 85ESL72??<br /><br />Your neutral saftey switch, (and the throttle switch) do not effect the spark, they effect only the starter, (ie will not turn over if not in neutral or if the throttle is forward)<br /><br />I have the 100HP version of that motor, (practically identical) and I had no spark when I got it either.. <br />In my case, I needed a new powerpack.<br /><br />I think there is a wire, black/yellow on that motor that you should disconnect and check again for spark.. <br /><br />I take it you had nothing to do with the replacement of the coil and pack?<br /><br />These motors are very particular, any bad earth connection (or any revelant wire) can result in a blown pack. so check all your earth connections for starters.<br /><br />do you know anyone with a similiar motor? if so can you borrow their pack to test???<br /><br />do a search on this forum for posts by Schematic, he has mentioned on this list many times checks you can make for the stator/coil/pack with a multimeter and DVA adaptor...<br /><br />let us know how you go.<br /><br />regards<br /><br />Frank

 

[Franki]

Re: 1972 85 HP Johnson won't start

Incidently, who checked your points?<br /><br />I don't think it has points.. the 68-71 models did. but the 72 doesn't I believe.. (hense it being much harder to do the old car coil swap on that model (which is why I got a new pack instead))<br /><br />If your model number isn't 85ESL72, then you don't have a 72 model.<br />the last two digits designate the year.<br /><br />so if someone told you they checked the points, they may have been telling fibs.. check and see for yourself one way or the other.<br /><br />regards<br /><br />Franki

 

[mattm0000]

Re: 1972 85 HP Johnson won't start

I guess I didn't give enough information...I checked my points, it does have points, and I replaced the powerpack. The coil is new, it looks new and I have a reciept for it. It is a 72, I have the title and the engine number. I already tried disconnecting the black/yellow wire, and nothing changed. My points are good, and gapped properly. I am getting power into the wiring harness. My battery is fully charged. If the nuetral safety isn't the problem, I guess it could only be a shorted wire somewhere, right? I think I checked all the other possible problems, is there anything else I could check before sorting through all those wires to find a short?