84 johnson 20 hp no spark

[imported_lorin]

You can check the kill switch like this. Find the wire coming from the kill switch that goes to engine ground. Remove the wire from ground and make sure it doesnt move back near ground. Try running the motor. If everything is now OK then the problem was the kill switch. You will have to replace the wire onto ground to stop the motor using the kill switch.

 

[imported_lorin]

Re: 84 johnson 20 hp no spark

Let's agree on this. Current going to ground thru the kill switch circuit kills the engine. So on a healthy engine, with the lanyard in place in the kill switch , the circuit is open so current cannot pass thru the switch and go to ground and kill the engine. On a healthy engine when the lanyard is removed, the kill switch circuit closes, and current passes to ground killing the engine.
On a bad kill switch, even with the lanyard in place, the kill switch may be momentarily closing allowing current to go to ground,and kill the engine. If a dealer told you the kill switch is normally closed, completing the ground circuit for the motor to run, then he is completely wrong. Completing the kill switch circuit to ground will prevent the engine from starting, or stop it from running. Trust me on this. Again, you can test the kill swiitch by removing its ground connection (or cutting the kill switch wire). If you do this and everything is now OK, then you have a bad kill switch.