johnson 50 hp hydro electric problems Please HELP

[Reigel1]

hello my 50 hp johnson hydro electric drive is giving me fits 1972 model put in neutral start the choke opens when the key is turned thats it power goes to relay and stops. i replaced relay still same thing. I ran a jump wire to started just to see and she ran. now wont run at all any ideas please help hoping to get out this weekend. also i have another option ive just bought a 60 hp chrysler motor with the same hydro electric controls so id have a back up in case of trouble. this is the strange thing I hook up the juice to it turn the key the chokes open and the relay buzzes it dosent go any farther than that Im getting really disgusted that lately nothing but trouble with motors. is it possible that there is a kill switch on these somewhere i dont know about?? hoping to catch a break and get some good advise and get boating Thanks all,Dave

 

[F_R]

Re: johnson 50 hp hydro electric problems Please HELP

hello my 50 hp johnson hydro electric drive is giving me fits 1972 model put in neutral start the choke opens when the key is turned thats it power goes to relay and stops. i replaced relay still same thing. I ran a jump wire to started just to see and she ran. now wont run at all any ideas please help hoping to get out this weekend. also i have another option ive just bought a 60 hp chrysler motor with the same hydro electric controls so id have a back up in case of trouble. this is the strange thing I hook up the juice to it turn the key the chokes open and the relay buzzes it dosent go any farther than that Im getting really disgusted that lately nothing but trouble with motors. is it possible that there is a kill switch on these somewhere i dont know about?? hoping to catch a break and get some good advise and get boating Thanks all,Dave

"Relay (solenoid) buzzes". A classic symptom of either a dead battery or loose, corroded battery cables, especially the ground cable. Undo all the connections and sand them shiny bright and reinstall tightly. Have your battery tested.

HydroElectric Chrysler?? Nah, not in this lifetime.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: johnson 50 hp hydro electric problems Please HELP

Lets take this one item at a time.

First what relay are you talking about in a 1972 Johnson 50hp motor?

Second, there are two control boxes that work with a 1972 Johnson 50hp motor. They are both OMC units and are the yellow plug Johnson Hydroelectric unit, or the yellow plug Evinrude Hydroelectric unit. Do not try to connect anything else to it.

If your choke remains open when you turn the key to the "on" position, there are a couple of possibilities as to why. The first is that the mechanical choke lever, located on the motor, is in the "off" position. This disables both the automatic "warm up" choke (half actuation) and the manually applied, electric choke, which actuates it fully. The second possibility is that the automatic, warm up choke has been disconnected. If so, this was most likely done as suggested in OMC Service Bulletin 1335.

Last, if you have hooked some sort of other remote conntrol to this motor, chances are that the starter solenoid circuitry is wired differently. The stock control box does have a neutral safety switch in it, which prevent voltage from reaching the solenoid, unless that motor is in neutral.

 

[Reigel1]

Re: johnson 50 hp hydro electric problems Please HELP

"Relay (solenoid) buzzes". A classic symptom of either a dead battery or loose, corroded battery cables, especially the ground cable. Undo all the connections and sand them shiny bright and reinstall tightly. Have your battery tested.

HydroElectric Chrysler?? Nah, not in this lifetime.

my mistake it is a JOHNSON 60 HP hydro electric drive on a chrysler spirit of 76 boat. The battery is new wires and terminals are tight and clean. still when i hit the key the chokes open and the relay buzzes everything is wired correctly as far as i can tell lights work horn works when i run a jumper wire to the starter it turns but dosent quite start the motor not sure what to do next????? Thanks

 

[Reigel1]

Re: johnson 50 hp hydro electric problems Please HELP

Lets take this one item at a time.

First what relay are you talking about in a 1972 Johnson 50hp motor?

Second, there are two control boxes that work with a 1972 Johnson 50hp motor. They are both OMC units and are the yellow plug Johnson Hydroelectric unit, or the yellow plug Evinrude Hydroelectric unit. Do not try to connect anything else to it.

If your choke remains open when you turn the key to the "on" position, there are a couple of possibilities as to why. The first is that the mechanical choke lever, located on the motor, is in the "off" position. This disables both the automatic "warm up" choke (half actuation) and the manually applied, electric choke, which actuates it fully. The second possibility is that the automatic, warm up choke has been disconnected. If so, this was most likely done as suggested in OMC Service Bulletin 1335.

Last, if you have hooked some sort of other remote conntrol to this motor, chances are that the starter solenoid circuitry is wired differently. The stock control box does have a neutral safety switch in it, which prevent voltage from reaching the solenoid, unless that motor is in neutral.

the motor is all original it hasnt been ran in a few years i tried to start her and nothing i cleaned the carbs hooked up the fuel still nothing im getting juice to the first relay in the engine. i hit the key and it doesent fire the starter so i jumped directly to the starter and she fired right up and ran for about 10 econds. i changed out the relay with a new one still the same problem juice to it nothing out. the relay checks out ok both do actually the old ad new one i tried a second time to jump across to the starter and now it turns slowly not enough to start her. 850 cca battery with a 100 amp boost on it so juice isint the problem its getting her to start. in a desperate attempt to get on the river i purchased another boat with a johnson 60 hp hydro electric drive and that first relay buzzes when i turn the key but nothing else. any help would be appreciated Thanks again

 

[Daviet]

Re: johnson 50 hp hydro electric problems Please HELP

Could you give us a model number, I can't find a 60 HP in 1972. Working with the choke only at this time, are you saying that with the key turned off, that the choke plates are closed, and when you turn on the key and hit the choke switch the plates go to the open position? I can find a 50 HP in 1972 and the choke plates are normally open and close with the switch engaged, assuming the manual control is in the automatic position. Lets figure out the choke problem and then address the starting problem.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: johnson 50 hp hydro electric problems Please HELP

You keep talking about a "relay." As far as I know, ther is no "relay" in your motor. What, specifically are you talking about? Where is it, what does it look like?

 

[Reigel1]

Re: johnson 50 hp hydro electric problems Please HELP

Could you give us a model number, I can't find a 60 HP in 1972. Working with the choke only at this time, are you saying that with the key turned off, that the choke plates are closed, and when you turn on the key and hit the choke switch the plates go to the open position? I can find a 50 HP in 1972 and the choke plates are normally open and close with the switch engaged, assuming the manual control is in the automatic position. Lets figure out the choke problem and then address the starting problem.

ok the johnson 50 model # is 50ESL72C and the Johnson 60 is 60ESL71E
when i hit the key on the 50 the chokes open and nothing juice wise past the first relay. on the 60 when i hit the key the first relay buzzes thats where im at. Thanks for your help

 

[Reigel1]

Re: johnson 50 hp hydro electric problems Please HELP

sorry for using the quote thing im new at this but here is the motor info. ok the johnson 50 model # is 50ESL72C and the Johnson 60 is 60ESL71E
when i hit the key on the 50 the chokes open and nothing juice wise past the first relay. on the 60 when i hit the key the first relay buzzes thats where im at. Thanks for your help

 

[Daviet]

Re: johnson 50 hp hydro electric problems Please HELP

Both of those engines use the same type of choke system, just different number of carbs. With the manual choke lever in the auto position, the chokes should be spring loaded to the open position. When you turn on the key and hit the choke switch, the solenoid should pull them shut. What relay are you talking about, is it the starter solenoid or maybe the choke solenoid. Does the battery cable go to it?

 

[Reigel1]

Re: johnson 50 hp hydro electric problems Please HELP

yes the cable goes to it on one side then the other side goes to the starter yes i was wrong it pulls them shut when i hit the key from that point the 50 does nothing. the 60 the relay buzzes and nothing more. when i tried to go direct with a hot wire to the starter on the 50 she fired for about 10 seconds i hooked up the gas and tried it again nothing now it seems when i try and jump to the starter it turns it but not fast enough to fire the battery is fully charged im at a loss. the 60 when i jump across turns in the same manor and that battery is even bigger and fully charged. any help you can give is really appreciated thanks

 

[Daviet]

Re: johnson 50 hp hydro electric problems Please HELP

OK, lets call it what it is, a starter solenoid. Now that we know what it is lets work on one engine at a time. Lets start with the 50 HP. The way you describe it, it sounds like you have a voltage problem. Do you have a volt meter? You need to check voltage at the battery cable on the starter solenoid, battery side, should be battery voltage. Now attach meter to the large stud on the other side of solenoid going to starter, turn key, what is the voltage, should be battery voltage. Make sure all cable ends are clean and tight.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: johnson 50 hp hydro electric problems Please HELP

OK, lets call it what it is, a starter solenoid. Now that we know what it is lets work on one engine at a time. Lets start with the 50 HP.

Exactly, let's handle one motor at a time. This thread is entitled "Re: johnson 50 hp hydro electric problems Please HELP," so let's confine the discussion here to the 50hp engine. Please start another thread for the 60hp engine, so that people are not confused as to what you need help with.



.

 

[Reigel1]

Re: johnson 50 hp hydro electric problems Please HELP

ok im getting 13.2 volts on battery side of seolonoid relay and 0 on other side with key turned on. I switched relay with a new one and same thing 13.2 on battery side and 0 on other side with key turned on whats next???

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: johnson 50 hp hydro electric problems Please HELP

The next thing is to stop calling it a relay - its a starter solenoid. The reason why I am being insistent about this, is that you have to try to use correct terminology, so that people understand what you are talking about.

After that, try to be precise in explaining what you did. When you say that you measured 0 voltage on the starter, or downline side, of the solenoid, with the key switch "on," do you mean merely in the "run" position or the "start position."

If the key switch was only in the "run" position, you would not get voltage on the downline side of the solenoid. On the other hand, if you did turn the key all the way to the spring loaded, "start" position and did not get voltage on the downline side, you have a problem. If this happened with two different solenoids, you could have a problem prior to the solenoid.

Since you were getting solenoid clicking at one point and are getting nothing now, the first thing that I would check is the inline fuse, which should be located on the starboard side of the powerhead. I don't have a manual on your motor, so I can't tell you exactly where it is, but its probably right above the powerpack (rectangular box with wires on both sides) and near the wiring terminal block. Look for an oblong rubber casing that comes apart - the fuse will be inside.

If the fuse is blown, replace it with the correct 20 amp fuse. Its very short, so I don't know if you can get it in an auto parts store. If so, your best bet will probably be a NAPA store, because they do stock some OMC marine parts. Otherwise, you will have to find an OMC/BRP dealer or some other source of OMC parts.

If the solenoid tries to work after you have replaced the fuse, but still clicks, go back to F R's advice. Solenoid clicking is a sure sign that not enough amperage is flowing to fully actuate it. That comes from either a weak battery or corroded connections. If you need to clean the the battery cable connections, clean all of them, including the ground wire connections. Don't forget the cable between the solenoid and the starter. The starter grounds via the mounting bolts and you may even have to remove one or both of the bolts to clean it/them and the surface of the starter flange(s).

Do all of this and let us know how you are making out.



???

 

[Reigel1]

Re: johnson 50 hp hydro electric problems Please HELP

ok this last hour or so has been encouraging i got to tracing some things with the volt meter and test light and found the ignition switch would not transfer juice when i turned the key to start the motor. I hooked up the other control box i have from the other motor. now i have 13.2 on both sides of the starter seolonoid when i turn the key to start the engine. the cables are clean and making good contact the engine turns. like it wants to try and start there is good spark from the plugs. it is in Neutral when i am turning the key to start it. but for some reason it dosent seem to be getting enough juice to start it. the 20 amp fuse is ok that you refered to. i hooked up my 200 amp booster pack to the battery and its making no differance in the engine trying to start. whats the next step in getting her to run?? Thanks for the help

 

[Reigel1]

Re: johnson 50 hp hydro electric problems Please HELP

she runs Finally got her running sounds great I put on the muffs left her run for about 15 minutes there are some new things im trying to figure out now. #1 for some reason it wont throttle up or down not sure whats going on there??? and #2 when i turn the key off the motor wont turn off. I had to use the choke to kill it. she started with ease 2 more times but i had to use the choke both times to shut her down. any ideas???? Thanks again for all the help

 

[Reigel1]

Re: johnson 50 hp hydro electric problems Please HELP

ok heres a update we have the throttle figured out but still no luck with the turning off any ideas???

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: johnson 50 hp hydro electric problems Please HELP

ok heres a update we have the throttle figured out but still no luck with the turning off any ideas???

most outboards ground out to shut it off. my old merc had a switch wired that did so.

 

[Daviet]

Re: johnson 50 hp hydro electric problems Please HELP

According to the parts breakdown, the control box for the 60 HP has a blocking diaode and the 50 HP does not. You need to check out your orginal control box and fix the problem. Maybe ign switch. I think I am looking at the parts breakdown correctly.