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1973 Johnson 115 hp troubleshooting

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Retired8541

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Acquired an old bass boat to break my back, hopefully not my bank, in my retirement. It has a 1973 Johnson 115ESL73M model outboard. The 115 and 73 are recognizable and I'm guessing the others represent model and/or series

The battery was dead but I was told the engine runs fine, just cold natured (owner owed me some money, came across this boat and gave it to me). I've charged the battery and I get nothing but a click, like a bad starter on a car. I've tapped it with a mallet and made sure the battery is charged (it'll crank the power tilt easily) but will not spin up the starter wheel to the flywheel, even. Hope that description makes sense

I expect to put some money and a lot of time into making this boat non-sink worthy but I'd like to avoid becoming a parts hanger on this, if at all possible! I'm a retired Marine, so I'm used to making things work, for the most part, and it looks like a fairly easy part to replace (starter and solenoid) but I'd appreciate any guidance on making sure replacement is the proper step

Thank you for any help!
 
#1 Take the 'fully charged' battery to a shop and have it load tested. My guess is that even though it shows charged it is way low on amperage and can't engage the solenoid. If the battery is bad replace it.

Cold natured can be many things that are fixable. Once you're able to properly crank the starter check compression and spark. From there go to carbs and fuel delivery. I believe a '73 is NOT solid state ignition, but I could be wrong. you'll want to check points and condensers if it is not a solid state system.

KJ
 
Well, 73 was the first year for the " MAGFLASH " electronic ignition on the V-4 models.-------And V-4 big Johnsons last used points and condenser in 1966 model year !
 
See if motor spins by hand with a wrench on the flywheel. Do avoltage drop test from fully charged battery to the starter to test your cables
 
Pull the cables from the motor and battery and starter and bend them end to enb looking for weak spots. Wire brush the cable ends and then see if it cranks over. To check the starter just run jumper cables from a known good battery directly to the starter, neg to engine ground and just touch the post on the starter with the pos lead.
 
kevinj said:
#1 Take the 'fully charged' battery to a shop and have it load tested. My guess is that even though it shows charged it is way low on amperage and can't engage the solenoid. If the battery is bad replace it.

Cold natured can be many things that are fixable. Once you're able to properly crank the starter check compression and spark. From there go to carbs and fuel delivery. I believe a '73 is NOT solid state ignition, but I could be wrong. you'll want to check points and condensers if it is not a solid state system.

KJ
Click to expand...

That is very much a simple step to take, thank you. It's been awhile since I've had time to go out, but that reminded me that I never trust having a single battery on the water. I'll go pick one up and re-test with that one. Thanks
 
I cleaned all the battery connections that I could see and felt for any loose wiring points but haven't removed them to check that thoroughly, yet. Given its age, I wonder that I shouldn't just replace them anyway
 
racerone said:
Well, 73 was the first year for the " MAGFLASH " electronic ignition on the V-4 models.-------And V-4 big Johnsons last used points and condenser in 1966 model year !
Click to expand...
Ah yes, MAGFLASH CD ignition. I knew I wasn't remembering quite right. So, nothing to adjust outside of timing advance.
 
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