Johnson 85 HP need help

[Mathews]

I have a Johnson 85 hp on a cobia boat. The boat is a 77 but the motor says it's a 79. It hasn't hasn't been ran in about 5 years or so, but it used to run great. I was wanting to know what all i would needed to do besides the Fuel, Battery,etc. I got a new battery and it will not crank it clicks once when you turn the key, the tilt wants to work, put the depth finder want come on either. So what could it need and what all needs to be done to it.

 

[BKool68]

Re: Johnson 85 HP need help

The first thing I would check is the connections of your battery cables. Especially the ground cable to the motor.

 

[Digdug]

Re: Johnson 85 HP need help

I would clean up battery cables and make sure new battery is full of electrolyte and fully charged. Good Luck!

 

[jimtodd72]

Re: Johnson 85 HP need help

That click is probably the starter solenoid so you are getting some juice to the engine but somewhere there is some resistance. Assuming the battery is new (and fully charged)and all connections are clean, make sure all connections are tight, both at the battery and where the red cable hooks to the solenoid and where the black cable hooks to the starter case. I ran into a similar problem starting a 71 Johnson 100hp which had not been run for several years. Turned out the battery cables had corroded on the inside and had to be replaced. If you get no results from the obvious things, go up and down the length of both cables (after disconnecting) and bend them in your hands. If they make a crackling noise from the inside, they are probably deteriorating and need replaced.<br /><br />Good luck!<br />Jim