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1976 Johnson 55 Hp Trouble Cranking

T

TJ40701

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I have a 1976 Johnson 55 Hp with starting issues. Some times when I go to start it, It cranks very slow like the battery is dead and the next time I turn the key it cranks fine, First thought was the battery and connections, I cleaned the terminals and charged the battery that wasn’t it, so I changed out the starter that wasn’t it either, My compression is 110 pounds on each cylinder any help would be greatly appreciated Thanks TJ
 
Perhaps check the flywheel key.----Did you install a factory new starter or something else ?----Have the battery load tested.
 
If you absolutely cleaned "all" of the cable terminals and the components to which they connect..... that would be to the:
Battery... starter solenoid... starter... powerhead ground, and since you've replaced the battery and electric starter, the only problem left that could exist would be a internally corroding cable.

If one of the cables is corroding internally, the affected area will become very hot quite quickly. When the engine is cranking slowly... start grabbing, feeling the cables. When (If) you find a hot spot, either the cable is failing OR the terminal closest to that hot spot leaves something to be desired pertaining to being clean.

Let us know what you find.
 
racerone said:
Perhaps check the flywheel key.----Did you install a factory new starter or something else ?----Have the battery load tested.
Click to expand...

Thank you for replying I will check the flywheel key,, The starter was a rebuilt one..... This has been going on for a while last Sat. was the last straw, I took the boat down to the lake unloaded it,,, I hit the key and it cranked like it should please note it had been about 2 months since it was ran,,,, any way the motor cranked fast but did not start right away so I stopped cranking it waited about 30 seconds and tried again and it cranked like the battery was dead so I stopped and waited a few seconds and tried again and it cranked like it should,, It started fine the rest of the day,,,,, It seams to have problems after it sits for a while.. I was thinking the relief valve maybe bad.... Thanks TJ
 
joereeves said:
If you absolutely cleaned "all" of the cable terminals and the components to which they connect..... that would be to the:
Battery... starter solenoid... starter... powerhead ground, and since you've replaced the battery and electric starter, the only problem left that could exist would be a internally corroding cable.

If one of the cables is corroding internally, the affected area will become very hot quite quickly. When the engine is cranking slowly... start grabbing, feeling the cables. When (If) you find a hot spot, either the cable is failing OR the terminal closest to that hot spot leaves something to be desired pertaining to being clean.

Let us know what you find.
Click to expand...

Thanks the cables are quite old I will go ahead and replace them I'll let you know
 
No-----We are unsure what you are referring to with this " relief valve " that you mentioned.----Where is this item on your motor ?---Picture of it ?
 
That explains your confusion.------That relief valve is part of the cooling system .----That has nothing to do with the starter motor and cranking of the motor.----That is not a compression relief valve !!
 
That valve pertains to the cooling system only... has nothing to do with ignition, the starting system, etc.

It's purpose is to allow water to flow when pressure reaches a certain point when the thermostat hasn't opened yet... or when the water flow might be too great for the thermostat to handle it all.
 
Thanks for clearing that up for me, I have owned boats and worked on them for about 40 years I just hadden come across the problem I was having, Thank you all for the help...TJ
 
I think he was going to replace the main cables. It acts up when warm (usually). I wonder about the solenoid? Could be poor continuity. Thats what it was on my garden tractor. I took it apart and cleaned the contacts. Working great now, used it this winter too. It has a smaller size solenoid, however, than this outboard in question.
 
I also changed out the starter solenoid,,,, It starts great in the drive way with the hose hooked up,,,,,Also I took the old solenoid apart, the contacts were in bad shape, I honestly don't see how it was even starting with it...... I think I'll write this one up as a bad + wire and bad solenoid...Thanks for all the help..... TJ
 
How about that?.... In my 30+ years in the trade, I never once came across a intermittent starter solenoid, never once gave that possibility a thought... BUT... TJ's explanation of its internal appearance identifies it as such. Never too old to admit learning something.

However... I'd like to know how TJ made out putting that thing back together! :)
 
I had a spare solenoid in my parts box that I rebuilted some years ago,,,, The way I fixed it was to drill out the rivets,, file and sand the contacts,,, I used 6/32 pan heads with nuts to put it back together.
 
Be sure to determine the cause of the problem. Many times its a partially plugged main jet in the carburetor of the scored cylinder/piston. This causes the cylinder to run too lean, while its being dragged around by the other cylinder. Seen it many times on these. Motor seems to be running "okay"....but....damage is being done. I have a spare powerhead that may be a good candidate for standard size pistons should you have major damage.
 
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