Evinrude Johnson Boat Motor Won't Start - Step-by-Step Diagnosis

In this video we carefully work our way to the conclusion that I am an idiot. The easy answer to why my vintage Johnson 35hp won't turn over.

[@brianrydzeski6108]

Okay Boys & Girls, 'When' you use an Ohm meter to test continuity, ALWAYS make sure the power is off or disconnected. The goal is to NOT let the magic smoke out of the meter. Again, Ohms, or continuity testing.... Plan your tests, put the meter in VOLTS, and check for power. Do all your connections and tests looking for voltage first. If you have No Voltage, you are safe to use Ohms / Continuity testing. Let's all keep the magic smoke inside the meter. Nice Work Matt!

[@K162KingPin]

This was interesting and somewhat helpful. I realized I wasn't getting 12 v to the hot terminal on the solenoid. Pulled the key, wasn't getting a hot there either. Then traced that back into the engine again where the hot wire leading to the key had broken off about 1/4 inch from the main wiring harness plug. Needless to say it was a pain to repair being broken off so close, but I got it. Boat starts on a whim. I'm actually really surprised because its been sitting for about 6 years. Last time I ran it, I knew it was going to be a while, (though not this long) and ran it out of gas, then drained the carbs before leaving it. This time around, I pulled the carbs just to check them out, they looked very clean, no bugs or gas residue. Put them back on, then noticed some cracks forming in the fuel lines. So I changed out all the fuel lines and the indicator tube from the water pump. Somewhere in doing all that I must have wiggled that connection that was barely holding on and broken it free. This was made all the more annoying because some previous owner had spliced a bunch of the wires at some point in the past with many of the same color and size green wire lol. So if anyone else is struggling, just keep tracing wires. There was actually another wire that was also broken though it was not in this cluster and very obvious. All in all from the boat running when I parked it I had to replace all the fuel lines, one water line, repair 2 broken wires, and replace one fuse (actually the whole assembly). But it works now. I'm still going to replace the water pump since its been sitting so long, but it could go in the water right now.

[@blakeashworth6091]

Wow I changed the solenoid and still wouldn’t start. Watched your entire video to realize I had it in neutral the entire time lol. Great video! Thank you

[@mbrenengen]

Welcome to the club.

[@darwinmoya5155]

I have a Johnson 55 when I turn key starter jumps and turns flywheel and keep spinning only if I hold the key when I let key go it stops doesn’t run just spinning like it wants to start help

[@craftyha]

Thanks hey I the same motor I'll be putting on my boat soon. I'll make sure I put the motor in neutral. Great diagnosis, learned some thing.

[@charlieringo5701]

This was a great help thanks bub im a first time owner and learning everyday thanks a lot buddy😂😂😂😂😂

[@slobodang952]

I'm for sure a neutral and it's still not happening so I must Need a new solinoid

[@jayd9538]

Well, ur not not the only one.....thanks for the video.

[@chuckNorris-bk6dt]

Should you not use the hand stick to put it in nutaral

[@DirtyMyrtleOutdoors]

On the water right now, same issue. Thanks for posting

[@sethgabbard7705]

Enjoyed your other videos. Again you made a great video. I just launched my boat at the cabin. And all I had to do was clean the carburetor.

[@danielrobert7181]

Dealing with outboards, there isn't a soul on Earth that hasn't regularly taken a few shortcuts on an engine manufacturer's recommmended starting procedure so such overlooks are bound to happen. Been there, done that ! Which is why that neutral safety switch (or any other safety device for that matter) should never be bypassed or neutralized. As to your learning curve, you might forget again to shift the motoe in neutral before cranking it but I'm sure you'll never hold the starter bare handed again. LOL. Happy outboarding !

[@wileyoutdoors]

Nice! Wish I could get my hands on a starter bracket for my 82. Pull starting sucks

[@charlieringo5701]

Ive done put a starter, solenoid, ignition and everything i feel so small i should have thought of the motor being in neutral thats a ll i needed to see

[@duramaxdiesel774]

My boat has the same problem i got 2 new battery i turn the key and nothing . how ever the motor runs if i jump it from the alternator.. Any ideas where to start??

[@mbrenengen]

Sounds like a very different motor, but I would look either at the wire that sends power through the key switch or the wire that sends power back to the starter solenoid. The later would be easiest to test by running a small wire from the (+) battery to the contact on the relay and see if it activates it. Sounds like fun. I wish I were there!

[@daniellaporta4131]

My neighbor has a 77 115hp and I'm assuming that he is having the same exact issue 🤣. I will let you know if that's what caused it.

[@Lance-fk1eb]

Got caught in a storm following which my tach meter did 360 and system check lights going on and off. We got stranded and had to be towed back. Key switch was replaced with a 23$ new one and voila- started right away. Leaving the key on the switch in a thunderstorm is not a good idea

[@esbielramirez2469]

❤ 👍👍

[@joanjoandres705]

Great video,thanks. My evinrude 9'9 4 stroke doesn t start. But if I give + direct from the battery to the red wire on the key, works nice. Any idea that aid me? Thanks

[@mbrenengen]

Possibly - check out this other video and see if it helps: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHi6qJqmnayanJo

[@joanjoandres705]

@@mbrenengen thankyou, I ll see this video several times becuse my english is poor. I ll try to check continuities and grounds first. Thanks

[@jamesruss3122]

1996 Johnson solenoid switch how to wire it up

[@chuckNorris-bk6dt]

I got same motor and won't start just clicks any ideas

[@mbrenengen]

Yes. Probably the battery or cables. Look at the 5 part series I have on this. Especially the electrical one

[@Gwesternstar]

I'm having this same problem did anyone find a fix?

[@scottd3532]

Good thing u discovered that before you spent money on it

[@mbrenengen]

Ha! I never spend money on anything.

[@charlieringo5701]

I just tried it and still the same nothing im lost for words

[@smoky5833]

No professional electrician goes a whole day without one shock! Even if ithe shock is as simple as your helper getting you a coffee with sugar, when you specifically told him, No Sugar!

[@broncohuntly_7269]

What terminal does ground wire go on

[@kenholt8297]

😂😂🎉🎉

[@slobodang952]

Was it not neutral I don't understand what's going on here I must be dumber than everyone😂😂😂😂

[@mbrenengen]

Nope - you are right on. The problem was that I didn't have it in neutral. Hey. I can't be the only one who has made that mistake...

[@TheNightrunner666]

What if your motor has a electric shift

[@mbrenengen]

Never heard of that, but it would be possible that it is not calibrated correctly. Make sure it is in neutral at the motor.

[@TheNightrunner666]

@@mbrenengen that's what I'm trying. Ran a tester all the way to the motor. Power stops at the solenoid. Brand new 2 times still turn the key nothing. So thinking it's a neutral switch but my shifter is electric. 1970 evinrude 40hp

[@TheNightrunner666]

@@mbrenengen so the push button switch for gear select at the front sends a signal to the transmission in the back under the motor but idk how to take the lower part of the outboard apart. 2 wires a blue and a green. So can't figure out how to take it apart to test at the electric solenoid in the transmission to see if it's working. But if I jump the starter solenoid giving starter direct power it fires up n runs and switches gears. But if u press it into netrual it continues to churn the water is it supposed to churn the water in neutral

[@mbrenengen]

@@TheNightrunner666 I doubt the mechanism to shift is in the lower unit. It has to be somewhere along the shift cable outside the motor (behind the dash maybe). Follow the wires from whatever button controls it. Yes, water will circulate through the motor when it is in neutral.

[@TheNightrunner666]

@@mbrenengen I have 3 buttons on the throttle forward reverse and neutral. Those buttons go into a box half the size of a pack of smokes with 2 wires blue and green. Those two wires run to the back of the motor down below the pistons into the lower casing according to what I can find 2 electronic solenoids engage forward reverse and neutral depending on the power through the 2 wires I had to read so many forums its a completely electric shifting system. There is nothing I can grab to shift it out of or into gear