My Johnson Workhorse rebuild project

[2manband]

Re: My Johnson Workhorse rebuild project

Power pack arrived and was installed but the problem persists. It must be the charge coil or trigger assembly. I figure if I'm going to remove the flywheel, I might as well do both.

I'm going run the motor again this evening around dusk. I want to make 110% that when it dies, it has no spark. Previous tests were done during daylight. I'm pretty sure that I could see no spark but want to be certain .

 

[2manband]

Re: My Johnson Workhorse rebuild project

I ordered the remaining portions of the ignition system for this motor last night - the charge coil and sensor, both OMC parts.

In my confirmation email from the supplier I used, the charge coil is described as "VNTGE." I'm thinking that this means "Vintage" or something like "new old stock" - a part that sat on a shelf for a number of years.

Is there anything about this part that would cause it to degrade if it sat around in its original packaging for a while? Should I cancel that order and try to find a new aftermarket part instead?

 

[2manband]

Re: My Johnson Workhorse rebuild project

I finally collected all the parts that I needed and got the motor running last night. The charge coil was discontinued (never did become available from the original supplier I used) so I tracked down a "new old stock" part on eBay. Borrowed a harmonic balancer puller from mega-autopart-corp and got the flywheel off. Installed new trigger and charge coil - took a little tweaking to get everything to clear the flywheel, made up the connections, and got it started. Tuned the idle as best I could in a barrell and it seems to be running great.

I'll hit the water in the next day or two to see how it does at WOT, but I think (knock on wood) I may have gotten it all sorted out.

 

[emoney]

Re: My Johnson Workhorse rebuild project

Love it when a plan comes together. Good for you and best wishes on the water!

 

[jasper60103]

Re: My Johnson Workhorse rebuild project

...

I'll hit the water in the next day or two to see how it does at WOT, but I think (knock on wood) I may have gotten it all sorted out.

Great. I hope all goes well. Please keep us posted.

 

[2manband]

Re: My Johnson Workhorse rebuild project

I took the rig out for a shakedown run, and everything worked great with the powerhead - Starts on the first pull even when cold, idles smoothly - and it really moves my old Starcraft along nicely.

Having a little trouble getting the shifter to disengage and go into neutral though.

If I'm in forward and move the shift lever to neutral, it stays in forward unless I fidget the shifter around a little. Reverse to neutral seems to work OK. If I'm idling in forward and shut the motor off, move the shifter to neutral, and restart, it's in neutral. Once I shifted straight from forward to reverse trying to find neutral - no harm done as it was at idle speed, but not something I'd like to repeat.

It just generally feels like the neutral position doesn't have a very strong detent on the shifter. I'm thinking this is because the clutch dog neutral detent doesn't occur in the same location that the shift lever neutral detent does.

Is there an adjustment somewhere that I can use to adjust the position of the shift rod relative to the shift lever so that I can try to get neutral "re-centered"

 

[2manband]

Re: My Johnson Workhorse rebuild project

I detatched and then reattached both ends of the shift rod linkage, paying particular attention to getting the bolts centered in the shift rod groove. That seems to have done the trick. Everything shifted just as it should yesterday. So it looks like I'm done with the mechanical parts. Planning to clean it up and shoot it with some spraypaint at some point, but for now I'm having too much fun fishing.