Need Help e90Tlcro - Broken down Moored out at sea.

[Shezwet]

I took my boat out the other day - about 5miles off shore the motor cut out dead flat... no hesitation or anything. Just stopped working like a click of the fingers. My Boat is now moored out at sea as the coast guard had to come and rescue us. By the time they got out to us ( 5 hours later ) the sea had roughed up and was too dangerous to tow the boat back safely.

Symptons.

-Key buzzer was continuously buzzing - ( VRO Is still connected and working ) and the engine is getting enough oil as I have been marking the oil level in the tank and watching it go down . Although if I wiggle the key around the buzzing will stop and the RPM tacho will flicker off and on.

-Plenty of fuel as can see going into the pre engine fuel filter, And can also see fuel coming out of the carburator fuel feed if I disconnect.

-NO SPARK - With the spark plug disconnected and a screwdriver in the end of the lead, There is no spark/arc to the engine itself once turning over - This is the same on every single coilpack.

- Dual battery system, Both batteries are fully charged.

I would really like to get my boat back to shore before the heavy weather sets in.

Any input for easy testing etc etc would be appreciated.

thanks.

 

[coolbri70]

Re: Need Help e90Tlcro - Broken down Moored out at sea.

if you are not getting spark at all of the coils I would think the issue is ignition related. the engine turns over and warning buzzer is sounding, so somewhere maybe a safety feature to protect the engine from damage from overheat or low oil, maybe a faulty sensor. might be best to have it towed in

 

[Shezwet]

Re: Need Help e90Tlcro - Broken down Moored out at sea.

Im thinking possibly safety cut switch.
The buzzer is on wether the engine is running or the key is switched to ign on without the engine running. And after reading this http://forums.iboats.com/johnson-ev...-90-hp-johnson-warning-horn-alarm-549977.html I might have a faulty sensor ? But which faulty sensor would kill the motor ? thanks.

 

[daselbee]

Re: Need Help e90Tlcro - Broken down Moored out at sea.

There is no faulty sensor or switch that will kill spark in an '84 90hp motor. All the sensors do is set off the alarm.

No spark, disconnect the big red plug from the engine to boatside harness. Jump starter solenoid to turn the engine over. If keyswitch is the problem, spark will come back, and engine should start.

If still no spark, there is nothing you can do to fix it out at sea like you are. It will be powerpack or stator or timerbase...all ignition parts to be replaced in the shop environment.

 

[Shezwet]

Re: Need Help e90Tlcro - Broken down Moored out at sea.

Thanks Daselbee - How do I go about jumping the starter solenoid ? Thanks.

 

[daselbee]

Re: Need Help e90Tlcro - Broken down Moored out at sea.

Use a heavy pair of pliers and go directly across the two largest terminals. It will spark.

Or, examining the two small terminals, find the one that is NOT GROUND. One of the two terminals may have a yellow/red wire on it, the other one will be black, the colors may be very hard to detect due to age, but the one that is ground is always black. Follow the wires back, the ground one will eventually be attached to the block, the other one will disappear into the harness.

Anyway, find the one that is not ground, and jump it to the large terminal that the battery cable attaches to. It will not spark, but will pick the starter solenoid, and turn the engine over as long as you hold the jump in place.

Watch out for the spinning flywheel. Keep hands clear.

 

[daselbee]

Re: Need Help e90Tlcro - Broken down Moored out at sea.

Be aware that if you get it started this way, you will not be able to shut it off with the key switch, because the big red plug is disconnected.
You will have to re-plug the red plug connection, or choke it down to stop the engine. You could turn the red lever on the primer solenoid to the manual position to choke it down, if you wish.

Be very careful here. I can picture you leaning over the transom/engine on rough seas, and having an "issue" if you get my drift.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Need Help e90Tlcro - Broken down Moored out at sea.

This may be a case of an expensive tow being really cheap at the price....

 

[Shezwet]

Re: Need Help e90Tlcro - Broken down Moored out at sea.

thanks heaps for this. Would be be common for anything else bessides the keyswitch to just give up without and spluttering or hesitation ? eg... it was driving along smoothly just over idle then all of a sudden stopped. Also the fact that jiggling the key would stop the buzzer going off..... makes me think it is inface inside the throttle mech/switch system.... thanks

 

[coolbri70]

Re: Need Help e90Tlcro - Broken down Moored out at sea.

I thought you were not getting spark when turning the motor if the motor is spinning but wont start I doubt you need to jump the solenoid, and if all plugs are not sparking its not likely all coils went bad at once, more likely they(coils) are not getting power or they are staying grounded, I think on these are powered at all times and the off position grounds them. you may be correct about it being in the controls. probably be best to have it towed home where you can better diagnose it

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: Need Help e90Tlcro - Broken down Moored out at sea.

Was the buzzer buzzing before she cut out?
Where are you located?
How far off shore is your boat?

 

[Shezwet]

Re: Need Help e90Tlcro - Broken down Moored out at sea.

Buzzer was buzzing before she cut out - Wiggle the key and the buzzing stops. The motor was running smooth as normal - then once we started to decrease to about 10kts for trolling the motor just stopped.
Once the engine stopped - Motor cranks over via the key like usual but no spark to any of the spark plugs. Fuel is getting through, Oil is getting through.

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: Need Help e90Tlcro - Broken down Moored out at sea.

so its still buzzing after the motor has being shut down for at least twenty minutes?

 

[Shezwet]

Re: Need Help e90Tlcro - Broken down Moored out at sea.

every time I put the key back in - it was buzzing so we stopped trying.

 

[boobie]

Re: Need Help e90Tlcro - Broken down Moored out at sea.

You're better off having the boat towed back. Mainly for safety reasons and ease of repairs.

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: Need Help e90Tlcro - Broken down Moored out at sea.

every time I put the key back in - it was buzzing so we stopped trying.

But how long did you try for? A motor thats got hot and has the cover still on will stay hot for often twenty minutes which would keep the alarm going.
If it had cooled down then there is no reason for the alarm to be on.
Wiggling the key shouldnt change anything unless you are turning it off during that time. That can indicate a warm key switch and a possible unintended activation of the kill circuit

 

[coolbri70]

Re: Need Help e90Tlcro - Broken down Moored out at sea.

my guess, something fell apart in the controls and its grounding. just a wild a guess

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: Need Help e90Tlcro - Broken down Moored out at sea.

worn key switch not warm

 

[Shezwet]

Re: Need Help e90Tlcro - Broken down Moored out at sea.

Even after 3 hours of waiting it still would not start. So - Removing the black/yellow kill wire from the power pack probably wont help the issue ?

 

[coolbri70]

Re: Need Help e90Tlcro - Broken down Moored out at sea.

Even after 3 hours of waiting it still would not start. So - Removing the black/yellow kill wire from the power pack probably wont help the issue ?

that may do it but take a tow rope with you when you get a ride back to it