Re: 1976 Johnson overheating
I think you have those 1 piece coil spark plug wire setups.But,i would breakdown and change them out.bad wires can and will still arch worse under load,through your elec.tape.As for the overheating.240 is very hot.Its possible your guage is off.Do you have a hot arlem ,and does it work.By putting your key on(not running)take the wire that connects to the sensor in the cyl head,its the wire that projects out,take the eng side wire,not the sensor wire and touch it to a clean spot on the eng for ground.Your horn should sound.If not,I suggest you get it fixed.Your engine will have another sensor,thats the temp sensor.It is brass,should be connected to a bolt on the head ,disconnect the wire and touch it to ground.Note where it reads.You might want to get tech.by getting a thermometer and putting the sensor into water and compare the readings.If your eng is 240.You will not be able to touch the head for long.You can buy heat sticks that melt at certain temp.that can be an indicator.What your trying to determine is if you are actually overheating.The hand test is good.If you cant put your hand in the area of the head for 6-9 seconds without getting burned,its hot.You should be able to touch it without major heat.If you are overheating,and you totally know the pump is ok.You can have a bad thermostat,or blocked waterpassages in the head or the exhust area of the eng,located on port side of eng.Triangular type shaped plates.Saalt,sand can plug these areas.You might try running without the thermo for a test.You can test your thermo by putting in hot water and know it opens.
