1988 johnson 120...won't turn over

[cotaone]

Re: 1988 johnson 120...won't turn over

Ok, Joe. I did as you suggested and put the red lead on my multimeter to the S terminal, and grounded the black lead to a screw on a nearby door frame. I got maybe 1.2 volts. I also suceeded in blowing the main 20 amp breaker, and I tried to turn the flywheel clockwise to get the starter bendix to let go, but didn't do any good. I turned the starter bendix clockwise to try to make it screw back down to no avail. So I'm led to believe that there's no power getting from the keyswitch to the solenoid and starter. New keyswitch? I also checked for voltage cut off switch, and there was none. I then checked for voltage to the "B" battery terminal and got 1.3 volts. As I said in my first post, I'm no mechanic, and I'm certainly no electrician. I don't know what I did to blow the main fuse, but it blew, and I'm still left with the problem that the key won't turn the engine over. It's kind of frustrating when you don't really know what you're doing, but thanks especially to you and Kryptonite for all your help. I really do appreciate you for the advice.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: 1988 johnson 120...won't turn over

With no intention of insulting your intelligence, I suggest that you make an effort to contact someone who has some mechanical knowledge which includes the electrical field in order to avoid a possible expensive electrical goof. The voltage at the "B" terminal of the ignition switch should be the same exact voltage that is present at the battery. Hopefully the battery is good and fully charged.

What you are calling a "Voltage Cut off Switch" is actually a electric starter solenoid switch and is entitled "Safety Switch" and believe me, it exists. If you have the standard white OMC control box, the safety switch is within it. If you have a control system that sits atop a center console, it would be attached to it under the console at some point.

If you are indeed only obtaining 1.3 DC volts to the "B" (battery) terminal of the ignition switch, either the battery is faulty OR the main voltage wire is loose, tight but has a dirty connection, or the wire is corroded within at some point. Nothing will be corrected UNTIL a full strong 12 volts is present at that "B" terminal.

Blowing the fuse is very easy to do as all one has to do is to momentarily short out a voltage wire to ground.

I don't have the wiring diagram to your engine, if I did, I'd send it to your email address. Hopefully someone can help you in that area.

 

[cotaone]

Re: 1988 johnson 120...won't turn over

Joe, believe me you haven't insulted my intellegence at all. I've insulted my own intellegence. Actually, I just never had any experience at electronics, and honestly I don't know what I'm doing. The more I get into this electrical diagnosing, the more I find out what I don't know. At this point, I think I need to get my boat to a marine repair shop because I just don't have the knowledge to fix it, and like you said, I don't need to make an expensive goof. Could be that I indeed have good voltage at terminal B, maybe I didn't have the proper ground on my multimeter to get an accurate reading. I think I better go and get professional help (pun intended LOL). And again, thanks for sharing your knowledge with me and for the great advice.

 

[cotaone]

Re: 1988 johnson 120...won't turn over

Well I have an update. The mechanic checked everything out, and went through the electricals pretty much as you advised me, and found a bad connection on one of the wires on the key switch. Also, the starter was indeed bad. He turned the key and the starter wasn't turning the flywheel fast enough to start it, and the starter started smoking. He explained to me what was going on inside the starter, and why it was smoking and why the starter was as hot as a firecracker. Anyway, new starter is ordered, and after cleaning all the corrosion off the key switch leads, we should be back in business. A special thanks to Joe and Kryptonite for all the help and advice. Moral of the story is when you don't know enough about your problem, get help and take the advice of the good folks on iboats.