Johnson 50hp J50ESLEUS 1996 - will not start

GillTiree

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Dec 14, 2007
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5
Hi,

First time out in a new purchase and the engine would not fire up.

Seems to be getting fuel ok, but I'm not sure the choke is operating.

Previous experience with Mercury 50, when the choke button is pressed you can hear a click in the engine - nothing seems to move or is heard in the Johnson. Mayber the remote chock isn't working.

Any advice........?

Cheers.
 
Last edited:

Daviet

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Sep 24, 2008
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8,958
Re: Johnson 50hp J50ESLEUS 1996 - will not start

That engine uses a choke solenoid, sometimes you can't here them click. Make sure the lever is pointed over the solenoid. You can remove one of the tubes going to a carb, push the key in and check for fuel flow out of the tube.
If you have good fuel you might check spark and compression.
 

tashasdaddy

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51,019
Re: Johnson 50hp J50ESLEUS 1996 - will not start

first, your motor does not have a choke, it has a primer solenoid, remove cover and listen for the click as you did on the Merc. no click, clean the ground solenoid ground wire.
Did you start the motor prior to purchase?

as said you can remove one of the hoses to the carbs, to check flow. the red lever in regular operation, should be turned back over the body of the solenoid. if you need to manually use it, turn knob 90 *, this allows fuel flow.
 

GillTiree

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Dec 14, 2007
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Re: Johnson 50hp J50ESLEUS 1996 - will not start

Hi,

Thanks for the advice.

The red lever is over the solenoid, this doesn't move when the key is pushed in. I checked the voltage across it with the key pressed in and also not pressed in - no change at 0 volts. Also when checking across the purple wire leading into the solenoid and ground there is continuity (0 Ohms).

I would assume that when the key buttin is pressed in to activate the solenoid there should be 12v across the solenoid?

Thanks in anticipation.

Gill
 

Daviet

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Re: Johnson 50hp J50ESLEUS 1996 - will not start

If you have proper voltage to the solenoid, check the ground, if it is ok it sounds like your solenoid is defective.
 

GillTiree

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Dec 14, 2007
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Re: Johnson 50hp J50ESLEUS 1996 - will not start

I don't seem to get a voltage across it and ground seems OK. If I put 12v across it would I see or hear anything?
 

Daviet

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Re: Johnson 50hp J50ESLEUS 1996 - will not start

Make sure the ground is good.
Disconnect the purple wire and use a jumper wire to a voltage source, battery cable at starter solenoid is a good one.
Remove hose going to carb, apply voltage to purple wire, do you get fuel out of hose?
If so, solenoid is working properly, if not you have a solenoid problem.
 

GillTiree

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Dec 14, 2007
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Re: Johnson 50hp J50ESLEUS 1996 - will not start

Thanks guys for all the solid info.

I traced the problem back to bad ground connections. Once ground connections were cleaned and made good I got 12v across the purple wire and solenoid ground when the key press was activated. Disconnected fuel pipe to top carb and got a shot of petrol when the key press was activated.

Primed the engine by pressing in the key and it fired up!

Slainte! ;)
 
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