1966 Johnson 20hp questions

[NateL32]

This 1966 Johnson FD-20C came from my father-in-laws barn. It ran when it was put away but has sat for a couple decades probably. It was stored upright and dry. Had a mouse nest under the cowling but appears to be in good shape for the age. It was set up for remote controls with the pullies for the steering. I could not find the cable for the starter. It had a tiller handle that I attached. The pull rope for the starter doesn’t engage but I’m thinking that is because it’s set up for electric start? I want to restore this for tiller use. My main questions are:
1. Does the choke knob work or is it disabled some how for remote use?
2. Why doesn’t the pull rope engage?
3. Is using the electric starter as simple as adding a solenoid, battery, and starter switch?
4. Did this motor have a kill switch?
5. What I be better off just discarding the electric starter and using the pull start?

 

[racerone]

Step # 1 is to pull the flywheel.------The magneto needs attention.-----Both coils are likely cracked.-----Recoil needs repair.------Choke should work both ways.----Solenoid , battery and a switch would do the trick.

 

[Crosbyman]

in case...

 

[lindy46]

1. Choke knob should work for manual starting. Motor should have a choke solenoid for remote starting.
2. Make sure the motor isn't frozen. Can you turn the flywheel by hand?
3. You could add a solenoid in the engine pan and starter button on the lower cowl. Then you could use the electric start at the motor or run long wires to a starter button/switch in a remote area.
4. Kill circuit is the two black wires coming out from under the magneto.
5. For an old guy like me, electric start is a must. For a young guy, they aren't that difficult to pull-start.

 

[lindy46]

Just looked closely at the pics - Your motor had factory electric start. Solenoid should be in the cowl pan. It would be fairly easy to rewire it to bypass the remote cable hookup if you can't find the cable. Had a key start. Turning off the key would kill the engine. See Crosbyman's diagram.

 

[NateL32]

1. Choke knob should work for manual starting. Motor should have a choke solenoid for remote starting.
2. Make sure the motor isn't frozen. Can you turn the flywheel by hand?
3. You could add a solenoid in the engine pan and starter button on the lower cowl. Then you could use the electric start at the motor or run long wires to a starter button/switch in a remote area.
4. Kill circuit is the two black wires coming out from under the magneto.
5. For an old guy like me, electric start is a must. For a young guy, they aren't that difficult to pull-start.

Motor is free. Flywheel turns. It’s just when I pull the starter rope it pulls out but doesn’t engage the flywheel. It feels like it is just under the tension of the spring that recoils it. Does that make sense lol?

 

[NateL32]

Just looked closely at the pics - Your motor had factory electric start. Solenoid should be in the cowl pan. It would be fairly easy to rewire it to bypass the remote cable hookup if you can't find the cable. Had a key start. Turning off the key would kill the engine. See Crosbyman's diagram.

Ok so basically all I’m missing is the key switch and the remote choke switch on the diagram.

 

[tphoyt]

sounds like the recoil needs service. If the dogs have old dried up grease on them they won’t be able to in gauge the flywheel.
Pull it off and check things out.

 

[Crosbyman]

you may want to add a fuse on the +12V feed from the selenoid to the start key...more modern engine wiring have such a fuse so the full amps from the battery don't burn up things in case of a short to ground.

 

[lindy46]

Ok so basically all I’m missing is the key switch and the remote choke switch on the diagram.

And battery cables, and lots of 12-14awg wire