76 70hp johnson 70EL76D ignition problems

[wavewrangler]

i got this motor and was told the starter solenoid needed to be replaced. got a new one on there and cant get it to crank at the key. i can jump it and it will fire right up no problems the key will even kill the motor. I've put my meter on the solenoid terminals with the key in start and it reads 12.82 but nothings happening. thought by a fluke i got a bad solenoid so i took the one of my 40hp and tried it and got the same result.....nothing. the control box is not the original one that came with the motor. i cant find any numbers or anything on it. from what i've found online and from what the guy i bought it from said its an omc control box with safety kill switch. no t/t and it also has a fast idle lever on top. key igniton with a rubber like three prong female plug sticking out. any ideas? ive also checked voltage at the ignition switch and its getting power there too? i'm at a loss. any help would be appreciated. thanks in advance.

 

[fireman57]

Re: 76 70hp johnson 70EL76D ignition problems

If you had a safety lanyard on this boat and it was not hooked up properly then you couldn't start the engine by jumping it. I am betting that the neutral safety switch inside your control box is not hooked up properly.

 

[wavewrangler]

Re: 76 70hp johnson 70EL76D ignition problems

fireman i thought about that too, but wouldnt it not run either when jump started? everything else on the control box seems to be working. when you push the key in the choke solenoid cuts on and when its jump started the key will kill the motor like its supposed to. i was thinking maybe a bad ignition switch but then again i wouldnt be getting the 12v reading a the starter solenoid contacts if that were the case, right? i put the solenoid from my 40hp back on it and it cranked right up. but the same solenoid on the 70hp it did nothing. upon looking at the wiring for the 40hp the solenoid is grounded to the I terminal and the ignition wire is connected to the S terminal. ive tried it both ways on the 70hp and still get nothing.

 

[fireman57]

Re: 76 70hp johnson 70EL76D ignition problems

Sounds like the ground wire on your solenoid from your 70 is bad. When you jump it are you just using a screwdriver between the two terminals or using jumper cables? I you are using cables then you are grounding it with them. If you don't want to spend the money for a new marine solenoid you can just pick up a ford one at autozoners for about 12 bucks. Mind you that you can only mount it with one bolt but it would be good for test purposes or an emergency. If your 40 one works and the 70 doesn't it seems like you found your problem unless I am missing something.

 

[wavewrangler]

Re: 76 70hp johnson 70EL76D ignition problems

thanks fireman, probably gonna sound stupid but i did get one from oreillys and couldnt get it to work either. then figured out i needed to add a ground wire to the base of the solenoid. i thought it was grounded from being bolted to the head. guess not. i added a wire from the neg terminal to the base of the solenoid and viola cranks right up. thanks for the responses tho.

 

[fireman57]

Re: 76 70hp johnson 70EL76D ignition problems

Great. Get out on the water, have fun, and be safe.