Re: Johnson 1969 55HP amplifier
I have a 69 Johnson 55 HP outboard. I need to figure out how to test the amplifer without using expensive Johnson test equipment. Voltage is going into the amplifier from the ignition. The points are breaking when jumping current from the positive battery terminal. No current is coming out of the amplifer when ignition is on.
Huh? "points are breaking when jumping from the positive battery trminal" What does that mean?
Disconnect the coil from the amplifier, then unscrew the whole coil and wire assy out of the distributor cap. Remount the coil and reconnect to the amplifier. (Wire is now out of the cap) Rig up a spark gap off the end of the coil wire. Now disconnect the wire between the amplifier and points. Turn the key on and verify that you have 12 volts to the amplifier. Then lightly brush the end of the points wire (coming from the amplifier) across a clean metal grounded part. You should get a bunch of sparks across the spark gap. If you do, then the amplifier and coil are good. If no sparks, then either the amplifier or coil are bad. Take your best guess which one.
