Somebody help PLEASE!!!

[Rather.B.Fishin]

Ok so here's my problem :facepalm: I have a 1960 40 hp Johnson that I have just finished rebuilding. It has great compression (120psi on both cylinders). I replaced coils, condensers, points, plugs and plug wires. I put a new solenoid and replaced all connectors from the ignition switch to the junction box. I rebuilt the carb and fuel pump, put in a new impeller and everything. So after doing all of this I hook up the gas tank to give it a shot and nothing. It has spark and good compression but wont start.

On a side note, when I turn the key to start it the starter will turn and engage but then after two or three cranks I turn the switch and nothing happens. Ill wait 10 minutes or so and try again and the starter will turn and engage, but then after two or three cranks NOTHING. Any ideas??

 

[xjdriver]

Re: Somebody help PLEASE!!!

Try putting some fuel directly in the carb throat, and see if it fires, then youl know if its a fuel issue.

 

[emoney]

Re: Somebody help PLEASE!!!

Are you sure the battery is good? Have you taken the cover off the starter? They need cleaned and inspected too? Check all your main power connections. You need to have "shiny" wire anywhere you can see wire. Just because they "look" ok, doesn't mean they're not. After just 2 or 3 cranks and then "nothing", points you to either battery, cables, starter or solenoid.

 

[Bill3434]

Re: Somebody help PLEASE!!!

If your power cables are old they maybe corroded internally but you won't know that withough cutting them open. I spent half a season cleaning contacts and everything else only to find the main problem was my main power cables.

 

[F_R]

Re: Somebody help PLEASE!!!

Don't guess, test it. Get a voltmeter (multimeter) on those solenoid nuts and test the voltages. But if you want a guess, are yuo sure you don't have the throttle advanced too far, opening the safety switch?

I can't read the rest of your question becaise of the big ad covering it. Moderators????

Follow-up. Ad is gone. Thanks, to whoever fixed it.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Somebody help PLEASE!!!

I think you may have a bad/weak battery. Assuming the motor has compression, spark and fuel it should fire up with just a bump from the key.

 

[Rather.B.Fishin]

Re: Somebody help PLEASE!!!

Ok, so I checked the battery and it has a full charge. I did notice that the power cable coming from the harness to the starter was cracked and looked pretty bad. I havent had time to really get into it because of school and work. Is it possible to replace this power cable without replacing the whole harness??

Ill try spraying fuel in the carb throat and see if it fires.

One more question, and I know this is a stupid one, but I didn't keep track of the spark plug wires when I was replacing and so they might be reversed. Will this make a difference?? Sorry this is my first rebuild

Thanks or your help guys

 

[freddyray21]

Re: Somebody help PLEASE!!!

the coils closest to the carb feeds the top cylinder and yes it makes a difference. It will back fire at best. It will also not start if they are wrong

 

[Bill3434]

Re: Somebody help PLEASE!!!

Ok, so I checked the battery and it has a full charge. I did notice that the power cable coming from the harness to the starter was cracked and looked pretty bad. I havent had time to really get into it because of school and work. Is it possible to replace this power cable without replacing the whole harness??

Ill try spraying fuel in the carb throat and see if it fires.

One more question, and I know this is a stupid one, but I didn't keep track of the spark plug wires when I was replacing and so they might be reversed. Will this make a difference?? Sorry this is my first rebuild

Thanks or your help guys

I only had to replace the power cables on my 70hp. I also had to tear apart the starter and clean it, re-assemble it.

 

[Rather.B.Fishin]

Re: Somebody help PLEASE!!!

Thanks for the help so far guys. We'll see if I can get it going in the next couple of days.

 

[Bill3434]

Re: Somebody help PLEASE!!!

Thanks for the help so far guys. We'll see if I can get it going in the next couple of days.

Let us all know what the solution was, so someone else won't suffer. Since I did an autopsy on my power cables I have seen several that were like mine. Nothing like cleaning and checking contacts out on the water, I got good at it instead of fishing.

 

[Rather.B.Fishin]

Re: Somebody help PLEASE!!!

Ok I took apart the the starter and cleaned it and started to replace the power going from the internal harness to the starter but I ran into a problem. I dont see how to replace it. It leads into the harness which looks like one solid piece of plastic. I dont see any way to remove it without damaging the harness itself. Any ideas?

 

[Wind dog]

Re: Somebody help PLEASE!!!

Run ajumper outside of the harness.

 

[Bill3434]

Re: Somebody help PLEASE!!!

Run ajumper outside of the harness.

Did that fix your problem? I'm not sure I understand what harness you are talking about. Might have t show us a picture.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Somebody help PLEASE!!!

A good old 40hp like that, should start easily with a pull rope, if it's tuned properly. 120 psi is pretty darned good. I've gotton that on at least a couple of my motors with a pull rope. If they don't start after 4 pulls, then something is wrong. I do it with all the ones I have. If I feel lazy, then I'll grab a battery.
The front coil services number one cylinder. The points and condensor on the right of the front coil, connects to the front coil, also.
Make sure your points are clean and gapped at .020 You can get it gapped pretty darned close, if the heel of the points is centered on the "TOP" on the cam. Also, make sure all the wires in your ignition system are away from where moving parts will spin. If the wear the wiring through, then your system will fail.

 

[Bill3434]

Re: Somebody help PLEASE!!!

A good old 40hp like that, should start easily with a pull rope, if it's tuned properly. 120 psi is pretty darned good. I've gotton that on at least a couple of my motors with a pull rope. If they don't start after 4 pulls, then something is wrong. I do it with all the ones I have. If I feel lazy, then I'll grab a battery.
The front coil services number one cylinder. The points and condensor on the right of the front coil, connects to the front coil, also.
Make sure your points are clean and gapped at .020 You can get it gapped pretty darned close, if the heel of the points is centered on the "TOP" on the cam. Also, make sure all the wires in your ignition system are away from where moving parts will spin. If the wear the wiring through, then your system will fail.

Good point about the pull rope. I pulled started my 70hp on one pull.

 

[Rather.B.Fishin]

Re: Somebody help PLEASE!!!

Ok, so instead of wasting my time with the electric start I'm sitting that problem aside until this thing actually runs. It wouldnt pull start even on the 100th pull I decided to take off the carb and clean it again in case I missed anything and I noticed that one of the screws were missing from my carb adjusters(Bottom, I thinks thats the low speed adj) Could this be my prob?

Just to double check I went back and checked for spark and made sure that the plugs were in the right cylinder. Both were good. I figure it has to be a fuel problem since compression and spark are both good. Again, thanks for your help guys

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Somebody help PLEASE!!!

I think that's it. If you're missing either carb needle, it probably won't start. The upper one is the "low speed" needle. It has a fine point, and is used to dial in the motor at low speeds/idle. The lower one is the "high speed" needle, has a blunt tip, and is used to dial in the motor at high speeds and is especially important during start up. Here's a link that can walk you through a rebuild of a carb very similar to yours. Rebuild kits are available here at iboats for about $20.

http://www.outboard-boat-motor-repa...hnson 5.5 HP 1954-1964 Carburetor Tune-UP.htm

 

[Rather.B.Fishin]

Re: Somebody help PLEASE!!!

Thanks kfa4303 that link is extremely helpful. Im off all day friday so we'll see if she runs then. If so we know it was the carb needles. Ill be sure to keep the board updated. Wish me luck!

 

[Rather.B.Fishin]

Re: Somebody help PLEASE!!!

Ok guys here's the new problem I got the adjustment needles for my carb. Backed the low speed out 1.5 and the high 1 turn just to get her started. I hooked up my gas tank and pumped the primer and noticed fuel come out of the front of the carb. It stopped after a few pumps and the ball got hard. I've pulled my arm off today and the best I've gotten is two backfires that scared my dogs to death! Any ideas?? Thanks guys