Johnson140 outboard

[smokin_dodge]

sorry about the lack of detail, i cant find my camera and keep forgetting to write down serial #'s. im rebuilding a ranger 1750 from 1979 i think for a guy, needed some extra cash so i figured why not.

ive finally gotten to the engine. the guy says that the engine was rebuilt (johnson 140 v4) and there should be no problems turning the engine over. it sat in a field for a while, the engine was covered and isnt showing its age, the boat however is.

today i put a new battery cable from the engine to the battery compartment, got a heavier gauge than was on there, 4-gauge instead of i think 6, and turned the key. the motor barely turned over and the starter wouldnt engage, you could count the compressions and it was maybe 20 rpm. so we pulled the plugs and turned the motor again, this time no problems at all, spun around a few hundred. we put 1 plug in at a time and with jsut 1 spark plug in the motor barely turns.

anybody have any idea whats up?

 

[JB]

Re: Johnson140 outboard

Which battery cable did you change? Sounds to me like you have a bad cable or connection on the ground cable from the battery to the block.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Johnson140 outboard

Agreed. Should check the "waking a sleeping outboard" thread as well if it has been sitting for a while.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Johnson140 outboard

90% of starter problems are bad connections. remove and clean both ends of the battery cables, so that they are shiney, also the cable from the solenoid to starter. check for nicks in the cables. and make sure the connectors are on the wire good. the cable tend to corrode from the inside out, if nicked, corroded wires, and connections, heat up and cause resistance to the follow of electricity, thus the starter doesn't get enough. you can also take jumper cable pos battery post to large post on starter. with a good connection, the engine should spin. then if the starter is good clean everything and retest. then trouble shoot solenoid. starters can be rebuit at a starter/alternator shop, much cheaper than a new one.

also have the battery load tested at the auto parts store, free, i've had new batteries go bad

 

[smokin_dodge]

Re: Johnson140 outboard

ok, today i tested the connection with an ohm meter, and its not the battery connection. it still barely turns under the starter's power with the plugs in, but take the plugs out and it spins fine.

im this close (milimeters between fingers) to telling the guy to just junk it and buy a newer used boat.

anybody know what you can get for a johnson 140 that needs to be rebuilt?

 

[Benny1963]

Re: Johnson140 outboard

shoot it full of deep creep .and turn over by hand hope long did it sit,
i did one that had sat for 5 years all was well ,
but i also did one that had been dropped in the water and sat 1 year total junk .50 bucks for the blown 140 is it bubble backed or flat backed pm me

 

[ezeke]

Re: Johnson140 outboard

Around 86 cents a pound.

It is unlikely that the engine is the problem. You either have a weak battery wiring system, starter, or an anemic battery.

The 140 crossflow needs to turn 300RPM to fire. It requires a powerful fully-charged marine starting battery. The original 1979 starting battery specification was minimum 360 CCA 0? F.

 

[JB]

Re: Johnson140 outboard

ok, today i tested the connection with an ohm meter, and its not the battery connection. it still barely turns under the starter's power with the plugs in, but take the plugs out and it spins fine.
/QUOTE]

An ohmmeter is useless in testing a high current circuit. Milliohms can disable your starter circuit. Take the connections off and clean them.

Or, you can go to the Engine FAQs Forum and do the starter circuit testing/troubleshooting with a voltmeter. You might have a bad solenoid or even the starter motor itself.

Good luck.