Johnson 90 outboard question.

[SeaSpray]

I may have lost something from my Johnson 90.

If you look at the last picture in my album you will see a screw hole in a recess on the port side of my gearcase. This is not visible if the motor is tilted all the way down (hidden by mounting bracket). I usually tilt it all the way down when stored to let the water drain from the motor.

This weekend I just noticed it looks like something is missing from here. At first I thought it was a grease cert but after looking in the manual it looks like the bonding wire was meant to go there. In the picture you can see the bonding wire connected just below this place.

Anyone know if I have lost something from here? Did they just put the bonding wire in a different spot?

I think I noticed this because I did loose the plastic intake screens from the water inlet. I have no idea where they went or how they could have been lost but they are gone.

Thanks for any ideas,
Steve

[Larry H]

Steve,

Does the hole have threads? Is there a bonding wire hanging loose?

The tiltable part of the motor should be bonded to the transom bracket and the bracket should be bonded to the trim unit.

I would try to get a look at a shop manual or a parts manual to find out.

Assuming that your motor is an 04 4 cycle, then Suzuki built these motors for Johnson, so either dealer could be of help.

If it is a missing bonding wire, or just a bolt, it should be replaced.

[SeaSpray]

Larry,

It is a 2004 4 stroke. The hole does have threads and I do not see a loose bonding wire, just the one in the picture below the hole. I have a shop manual but the pictures are not that clear as to where exactly the wire is connected.

Thanks, for the reply,
Steve

[Larry H]

Steve,

I should have thought of this before.

Is there a similar shaped hole on the other side of the motor? And does it have a bolt in it?

Maybe you just lost a bolt.

Larry H

[Mighty Bite]

Steve, I just went out to my boat (I have the exact same Johnson 90, year and all). There is a threaded hole there but the recess around it is pristine white paint. I'm pretty sure that there has never been anything in that spot on my
engine, other than an empty threaded hole. Hmmm, From the pic in your album it looks like the recess where the hole is might have had some thing there, as it appears somewhat discolored. Mine is clean and white.

You've got my curiosity up, so I'm wondering what it's for, as you are.
I'll see what I can find out at the Boat Shop tomorrow, although it's likely
someone will enlighten us sooner than that. If not, we'll know tomorrow.

[Mighty Bite]

Steve, I just went out through the snow and ice for a second look at the mystery hole. It appears to me that it may be a hole to accommodate some
add on because of the configuration of the recess and slot. It's only about
an 1/8th inch hole so it would be fairly light duty, whaatever the intended use. The threads on mine still have clean paint on them so it has never had male threads disturb it.............yet!

[Mighty Bite]

Steve, OK, if my information is correct and I have no reason to think otherwise,
you never had anything in that hole to start with. The parts/shop manual shows a bonding strap going from the "mystery hole to the other part of the frame. They ceased to use that particular spot, probably because of the working tolerance it proved to be susceptible to breakage or damage to the
bonding strap. They simply moved the point of attachment for the bonding strap to the spot just below and to the rear (5 0-clock), where you see the bonding strap on your picture. On the later motors you'll see that the mystery hole has been deleted.

Cool..................................have a good one!

[SeaSpray]

Thanks Mark!

That does make me feel better.

Steve