Re: Problem with 1960 75hp johnson
See the small screw sticking out the side of the magneto/distributor? There should be two black wires attached to it. One is the kill wire, and it can't run at all without the other (shorter) one. Is the wire long intact? It goes all the way forward to the key switch, passing through the cable plug attached to the side of the motor, and the junction box, on the way to the key. There is a secnd black wire going all the way from the key switch back to ground at the junction box. All that wire must be intact with good connections at each step of the way.
Last possibility is a defective key switch, but unlikely (well after 40+ years, anything is possible)
Quick test: Start the motor and use a screwdriver of piece of wire to ground the stud on the magneto to the case. If it quits, wiring forward from there is defective somewhere. Have fun finding it.
