1981 johnson 115hp NO SPARK

[conrad829]

Stator burned up on me last fall so i bought a new one just put it on the other night, made sure i had spark and i did on all 4 cylinders. today i pulled it out an hooked it up to water to run it. Started right up and ran for a few seconds an then died. Started right back up and ran for a little longer then died and now i have no spark? FRUSTRATED and out of ideas? ANY TIPS? please and thanks.










READY FOR SUMMER

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: 1981 johnson 115hp NO SPARK

Check your stator with a multimeter, check the resistance between the brown wires. My multimeter cost $10 brand new and has saved me hundreds in not ordering incorrect parts
Disconnect the kill circuit first.
Its all laid out in here what the resistance values should be and for which wires to check.
Just flick through until you come to your engines troubleshooter page
ISSUU - CDI Electronics Practical Outboard Ignition Troubleshooting by CDI Electronics

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: 1981 johnson 115hp NO SPARK

Make sure the engine cranks at least 250 rpm's. It has to crank at least that much to fire the ignition system on that engine. (be sure the battery is well charged.) Also, possible you have an additional ignition component which is also bad. Unlikely all 4 spark plug coils went bad all at once, so have a look at the timer base. You can check it for output voltage when cranking the engine. This website has the key voltage output you are looking for: cdielectronics.com-look at their online troubleshooting info. Should read something like 0.3 volts. You will need a special "peak reading" voltmeter to get the correct voltage. A normal shop voltmeter won't measure this correctly. There also should be output voltage requirements for your new stator-probably between 150 and 400 volts. Further info: You also have a matched pair of power packs, one for each head. If you think you have no spark on one head (only,) swap the power packs and see if the problem moves to the other head. If you have spark, but it won't run, or if it backfires a lot-make sure the flywheel key did not shear (when you replaced and re-torqued the flywheel.)

 

[conrad829]

Re: 1981 johnson 115hp NO SPARK

Ill have to check the rpms and the timer base. I wish it was just one head. lol. After looking at the stator a little more i beleive its a 6 amp, and from researching i think i need the 10 amp for the power trim? I also replaced spark plugs and wires when i replaced the stator. thanks for the help. ill let you know what i find out. Its starting to tick me off, only reason why i didnt just go buy a new/er motor is i got it dirt cheap an havent had a problem with it the last 5 years ive owned it

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: 1981 johnson 115hp NO SPARK

The 6 amp stator will run the ignition system on that engine. The trim works off the battery power. If you don't use the trim a lot, I doubt you'll notice much difference between stators. If you run a lot of accessories (like on a fishing boat with livewells and fishfinder) and the trim, it could become a problem.

 

[conrad829]

Re: 1981 johnson 115hp NO SPARK

Started to mess with it this morning, an what do u know i got spark on all 4 cylinders.:mad-new: then lost it. Went to the website and followed the troubleshooting. Figured out it was my stop circuit. Now my problem is how do i go about fixing it? that my be a stupid question? And to your last reply about the 6 amp stator. Yes its a 17' john boat with ALOT of hp behind it when it runs. I do alot of fishing and hunting out of it. But i have two batteries One is just for motor and lights. The other runs everything else.

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: 1981 johnson 115hp NO SPARK

Use a multimeter to find out where its shorting to ground, its often at the safety lanyard switch inside the control box

 

[conrad829]

Re: 1981 johnson 115hp NO SPARK

Figured it was in the box. Checking it out now. Thanks for the help guys. i dunno about you but im ready for summer to take her out. Usually take it out more in the winter then i was able to this year. But when everything is frozen thick not much u can do. Good ol southern IL weather. once again thank you

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: 1981 johnson 115hp NO SPARK

Check your key switch in the control box. If it has ever gotten rainwater in it, it can act up-even though it has a drain in it. They don't last forever. Possible there is a problem with the stop circuit, shorting to ground when the key is in the "run" position.

 

[conrad829]

Re: 1981 johnson 115hp NO SPARK


Everytime i try to trace down the bad spot it works just fine. Im leaning toward it being the kill switch in my control box. The little thing under my ignition with the two black wires coming out of it? I cant seem to find a new one online. Any suggestions

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: 1981 johnson 115hp NO SPARK

The kill switch is factory part number 393132, which supercedes to 585134. About $40.

 

[conrad829]

Re: 1981 johnson 115hp NO SPARK

Ok.... i replaced the kill switch and had spark everytime i tried it. Go to pull it out and hook it up to water an NO spark AGAIN. Everytime i use my meter to make sure i dont have a short it shows fine. Even wiggled all the wires trying to short it out and seems fine. If i unhook the black/yellow wires goin to the power pack i have spark all day long. Could it be the power packs? I just dont understand how i have spark when its parked it garage then pull it 10 ft out and nothing.

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: 1981 johnson 115hp NO SPARK

You can do a test: unplug the control box at the red plug inside the cowling. Jump the starter with a set of automotive jumper cables to a well-charged battery. (this eliminates the control box/harness from the engine's ignition.) If you always get strong spark when you jump (crank) the starter with the cables, the problem is probably in the control box or the long harness to the engine. Also, Check the key switch in the control box. If it gets any rainwater in it-could short the kill wire to ground.