Can't start 1970 40hp Johnson

[boater10]

To All: Sorry but this will probably be drawn out. I just bought a fiberglass boat with a 40 hp Johnson. Now, the controller is an evinrude. The wiring is all messed. The motor is an electromatic. Not sure if it is the starter but the serial is Prestolite MCD-4102C-12V. There is another part Presolite CJG-4008M-12V which is hooked up to another part which has a brown wire going to a part which says ARM on it. On this part the green wire goes to FLD and a yellow wire from a plug goes to the BAT. This plug is round and has 10 prongs (3 large/7 Small). This plug, as well, has the red/black battery leads. It is hooked up to the key/ampere indictor/hot indicator as well as wired to the controller. I had to wire this main lead to the switch etc as there was an older setup going to an electric starting box under the aft end. The wire for this was totally different. It had a white connector with six leads (4 horizontal/2 vectical on the sides). Anyhow, my question is can this all be bypassed and the battery be hooked up to see if the motor will run. I actually hooked up the battery the way I wired it and when I turned the key, it sounded like the starter clicked a few times but the red lead on the battery started to smoke and the battery leads to this small part below the starter were hot. This somehow tells me there is a short somewhere. <br />Please Help anyone. Any advice will be kindly accepted.<br />Thanks Steve

 

[djzyla1980]

Re: Can't start 1970 40hp Johnson

Don't know if this will help and it's late and the print is small...lol... but looks if you take the purple/white wire on the ignition switch and put 12v constant positive to it, you should be able to jump the starter at the seleniod and allow it to run. Looks to me it is purple/white in the harness as well.

 

[lark2004]

Re: Can't start 1970 40hp Johnson

The Unit on the right of the carb, as you look at the motor, is the Generator. It will have a belt running it off the flywheel. The unit on the left, with the cog sitting under a spring (the Bendix) on top of it, is the starter motor.<br /><br />Get a manual or a schematic before you try to work out anything else by yourself.<br /><br />Here is a copy of a schematic that should be almost identical to what your motor has.<br /><br />

 

[papasage]

Re: Can't start 1970 40hp Johnson

johnson & evinrude is the same all parts will interchange. you need to post the modle # to be sure of year and hp. didnt think that the 40 was eletric shift or electromatic. i have a 50 1973 and a book on the 72 40 and it is a manul shift on 40 1972

 

[lark2004]

Re: Can't start 1970 40hp Johnson

The Electric shift was still being used on 40's in 1970. <br /><br />A model will still help, but basicly, it's a Big Twin. They are all much the same.

 

[boater10]

Re: Can't start 1970 40hp Johnson

Thanks guys. Lark, that schematic is going to come in handy. Appreciate that. Looks almost the same and today I will check it to see if something is wrong. All great info. If any other ideas come up please let me know. By the way, my model is 40es 70a - Serial C 30934. Thanks again.<br />Steve<br />Nova Scotia, Canada

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Can't start 1970 40hp Johnson

That would make it a 1970 Johnson. Should be easy enough to get it to start. Isolate all the lines coming from the outboard, especially the black ones. Just tape them off and don't hook them up to anything.<br />Next, hook up the two heavy battery cables to a battery.<br />Then touch the small white wire to the positive post on the battery. The solenoid should click and the starter should rotate, cranking the engine.<br /><br />Alternatively, since you suspect the solenoid, you can simply connect up a set of jumper cables. Attach the black lead to the engine block somewhere that has no paint, and the red lead to the stud on the starter (perhaps take off the wire first). Then connect the other side to a battery. The engine should crank and start.<br /><br />You'll have to operate the choke manually with the lever on the side of the carb, since the electric choke won't be hooked up.<br /><br />The important thing to understand is that the ignition system is self-contained and totally independant of the battery system. So you can start the engine with a rope even with no battery at all.<br /><br />If the smoke comes back, there's something wrong with the starter. It should turn freely.<br /><br />Where in NS are you?

 

[boater10]

Re: Can't start 1970 40hp Johnson

Too All:<br />Thanks for the good help. Lark, I took your schematic and look it over. I did have the black battery lead connected to the starter. I had it connected to the other side of the solenoid I think. Anyhow, I double checked every via the diagram, hooked up the battery, turn the ignition key and on the second turn the motor started. I ran it for about 5 minutes in a rubbermaid tote with the muffs on. It ran great in forward, neutral and reverse. Now just have to put it in the lake to see how it runs. Working on the accessories now testing with meter the lights. Haven't confirmed the overheating button and the ampere gauge. Will test on Tuesday. For not being run for about a year and half, the motor sounds really good. Will test under high RPM's in the lake. Any suggestions for performing the motor on the lake.<br />Thanks again all,<br />Steve<br />Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

 

[lark2004]

Re: Can't start 1970 40hp Johnson

It would be a really good idea to replace your waterpump Impeller before you go to much further. If the motor has sat for 1 1/2 years with out being run, the rubber won't hold together for too long.

 

[boater10]

Re: Can't start 1970 40hp Johnson

To All:<br />Now that the boat is running, (Lark,I haven't checked the impeller or been on the lake yet), I have another question. If the wiring is correct, is the generator going to recharge my battery while it's running. Because for the amount of time I'll be using it, I want to run my accessories off the same battery. That would work wouldn't it. Thanks, Steve