1994 johnson 15hp

[umpalumpa1985]

I just got a 1994 johnson 15 hp electric start for free! The motor is tight as a drum, starts on the first choked pull every time, and runs like a top. I only have two issues with it:

The manual tilt/trim bracket with all the little holes in it doesn't have a pin in it. The plate with the notch on it is there and works fine, and operates correctly when you move the lever on the side of the motor by the tiller handle. What I need is for somebody to tell me how this tilt system works. Do you have to pull the pin to trim it to a new spot every time? How many pins are there supposed to be? It seems like if there was just one that the notch on the bracket sat on, the motor would try to kick up in reverse. Also, can i just use a bolt that will fit in the hole, or should I buy a replacement pin(s), and where would i get that/part #.

Also, I would like to know what the electric start battery hookups are supposed to be like. What i have is a battery cable with two terminal rings on it. The cables are a pair until the end of the harness, at which point one splits off and is about eight inches longer than the other. I touched the smaller one to a battery ground and the longer one to the hot side, and the starter motor kicked over without me pushing the button! Should I look to see if it was wired to cheat a solenoid/relay I suspect is bad?

Side note, I'm new from New River Air Station, active duty jarhead CH-53E avionics technician. I look forward to you guys' knowledge!

 

[andrewddrennon]

Re: 1994 johnson 15hp

Those usually have a reverse lock system. While the lever is down pull back and up on the lower unit. It shouldnt pull up. It should pull up while the lever is up. If you want to trim the motor up while running you need a single pin. And yes you would have to move it.
Need a model number to go further.

 

[umpalumpa1985]

Re: 1994 johnson 15hp

The model number plate is painted over but I can give you this:

two stroke, electric start, 15 horse, 1994 (stamped in powerhead cover), tiller steer. The above mentioned reverse loxk does not seem to work, the bottom will tilt up when the lever is in any position.

 

[Johny25]

Re: 1994 johnson 15hp

The reverse lock will not work until you have the pin bolt in place that determines the trim. Buy that and your problems should be fixed. The reverse lock grabs the bolt that you are missing. And yes it is just one bolt. I believe is it 30-40 bucks online. You could use a bolt from a hardware store but I recommend getting the correct bolt. It has a clip on it that keeps it from falling out yet makes it easy to pull out and adjust on the water. Just be careful that you don't drop it in the water when adjusting it because that really sucks lol. Had to dive down 15ft to get mine once......arg. thankfully I wasn't in 200ft of water lol.

http://www.marineengine.com/parts/j...5RERE&manufacturer=Johnson&section=Midsection

That is the link for your year and HP, Item #29 and its $27

 

[Johny25]

Re: 1994 johnson 15hp

By the way welcome umpalumpa I am fairly new here too but have worked on johnsons and know them fairly well. As for your starter issue I can't really tell what is wrong without seeing pics maybe? Something is definitely wrong though if the starter does that. The start button could be stuck in, it could be wired around the solenoid or it could be something else. There are wiring diagrams to be found on the net with a quick search though. Or you can post pics and one of us may be able to tell what is wrong by looking at the wiring.

 

[gokart83]

Re: 1994 johnson 15hp

i just replaced the trim pin with a long bolt and a nylock nut. once you find where it runs best, you usally dont change the position much anyway and its much cheaper to replace if it is dropped. As for the electrical, Just trace the battery cables back to the motor. The ground usually connects to the block via the starter mounting bolt and the positive to the soliniod. sounds like you have either a bad soliniod or a bad starter button. Just unplug the starter button, if the starter does not turn then thats it. If it still turns then get a soliniod.

 

[umpalumpa1985]

Re: 1994 johnson 15hp

I kinda see how the tilt works now, but i don't think just a bolt or pin will fix it. there's a little catch rod with three big springs on it and another little spring with a linkage hooked to it that i'm guessing is supposed to move when you put her in reverse. it doesn't, and i also cannot move it by hand. should i give this thing the pb blaster treatment or what? where do i look to see if the linkage is actually hooked up the shifter? and can somebody show me a photo of where/how the trim catch should set on the pin?

 

[gokart83]

Re: 1994 johnson 15hp

The trim adjusting rod is just a rod with a plastic squeeze clip that goes into one of the 5 holes that are in a line at the bottom. Nothing should be attached to that. What type of boat are you running this on? if its just a little fishing/john boat, i would not worry about reverse lock that much. Mine doest lock so i just throttle it up slowly in reverse

 

[raczekp1]

Re: 1994 johnson 15hp

its 83' but the same tilt ,midsection
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8qFJfJkFxg

 

[umpalumpa1985]

Re: 1994 johnson 15hp

It is on a little jon boat, so I'm not too worried about the reverse lock. I think I will just use a bolt for the pin, because like was said above, once I figger out where it rides, it probably won't get changed much. You guys rock, thanks for the help!

 

[Johny25]

Re: 1994 johnson 15hp

I would fix the reverse lock umpalumpa. If you forget that it doesn't work or someone else runs the motor and doesn't know the reverse lock doesn't work it could be very dangerous. Bolt the motor to the transom if you choose not to fix the reverse lock. It is a good way to lose your motor off the back of the boat by not fixing your reverse lock and not having it bolted to the transom. Not to mention the other dangers. I would fix it.

 

[umpalumpa1985]

Re: 1994 johnson 15hp

UPDATE: reverse lock works! there was a spring undone and kind of dangling on the left side (looking from the prop to the bow) and the little reverse lock catch thingy wasn't moving up and down when i locked/unlocked the trim lever. now when i move the lever i can also see that smaller piece moving up and down. when tilt is locked, it won't lift up, and it will lift when tilt is unlocked.

Now for the electric start. I work nights so i'm going to work now, i will post photos of the wiring tomorrow.

 

[umpalumpa1985]

Re: 1994 johnson 15hp

I have found conflicting info on the spark plugs for this motor. One chart I looked at says champion part # QL82c and the other says QL77JC4. I got the QL77JC4, is this the correct one? Is .030 the correct gap?

 

[Johny25]

Re: 1994 johnson 15hp

I believe so umpalumpa. That is the same plug I run in my 87 15hp and in my 88 25hp johnson. I don't have a book for the 94 but I believe they are the same. And yes .30 gap is correct

 

[umpalumpa1985]

Re: 1994 johnson 15hp

Ok i changed the plugs. there seems to be a miss across the entire rpm band except wot. it isn't bad, it will pop once or twice once every 5-6 seconds. running on only one cylinder by unplugging on spark plug at a time, it will still miss at almost the same frequency. i pulled both boots off and grounded out one at a time while pulling the rope start. the spark is thick and hot and will jump a 1/2 inch gap. do you guys think this is most likely a timing issue or a carburetion issue?