Johnson Tilt Solenoid.......

[CaptynKorbz]

What is the actual purpose of solenoid on the tilt solenoid?

The wiring is interesting to say the least.

There is the usual positive and negative large terminals, then there are 2 smaller terminals...

I gather a solenoid is basically a large current switch.

The strange thing is, on an old 80's Johnny, the up switch is wired into the solenoid terminal and the down wiring is a straight power connection.

Do they use a solenoid for the up tilt because of the load pushing the motor up is considerably higher than the load lowering the tilt?

There seems no wiring to the lowering side of things on the solenoid wiring diagram. It is wired straight into the switch.

My research has shown that there is only 1 solenoid required for an 80's Johnny, 3 wire tilt motor.

Any 2 wire tilt motors have 2 relays.

My question here is....... why am i bothering using a solenoid?

[CaptynKorbz]

What is the actual purpose of solenoid on the tilt solenoid?

The wiring is interesting to say the least.

There is the usual positive and negative large terminals, then there are 2 smaller terminals...

I gather a solenoid is basically a large current switch.

The strange thing is, on an old 80's Johnny, the up switch is wired into the solenoid terminal and the down wiring is a straight power connection.

Do they use a solenoid for the up tilt because of the load pushing the motor up is considerably higher than the load lowering the tilt?

There seems no wiring to the lowering side of things on the solenoid wiring diagram. It is wired straight into the switch.

My research has shown that there is only 1 solenoid required for an 80's Johnny, 3 wire tilt motor.

Any 2 wire tilt motors have 2 relays.

My question here is....... why am i bothering using a solenoid?

OOOOPS!!!!
I just solved the problem people...

The wiring diagram i have is not too clear... so taking into account that the solenoid is basicly that switch....I have wired the up on one side and the down on the other side...hey presto...Solved issue...

[Fed]

Double check that mate, I think it may have been right the first time.

[CaptynKorbz]

Double check that mate, I think it may have been right the first time.

Ill post up a couple of pics tomorrow.

I tested it and seems to work exactly like you would wiring it direct to the up/down switch on the control.

I wonder what the actual difference is running the solenoid compared to not running one?

[CaptynKorbz]

This is the wiring diagram that i had to decipher due to its lack of resolution when i downloaded it off the net. And i kind of wired it to how i thought it might be. Then when i tested it..the solenoid would make a whirring noise like it didn't have enough power but of course i knew it did. So i combined the Up tilt wires, instead of having them opposing and it worked. I did the same with the Down tilt wires aswell and tested ok. So i thought i was on a winner!!!!
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]
So i come across this other simplified wiring diagram.
[IMG][/IMG]
Question: Should i just leave the wiring alone because its working fine the way its wired.... OR.... do i start all over again?

[scottar]

The way that solenoid is wired as per your photo will result in a direct short circuit between the positive and negative battery leads if the solenoid is energised. Disconnect your battery before going near it. You were right with your assumption that down draws nowhere near the same amount of current as up so a solenoid is not required (courtesy of gravity and forward thrust). The simplified diagram is correct. The pump has run ok but up is direct through the switch - with the added current draw due to forward thrust once the motor is actually running it will probably burn out the switch in this configuration.

[Fed]

Disconnect your battery before going near it.

Start again mate.
The 2 small solenoid terminals are the ones shown inside the box on the simplified drawing.
The 2 large solenoid terminals are the ones shown outside the box on the simplified drawing.

If you have any doubts about it ask.

[CaptynKorbz]

I spent tonight rewiring and all is running fine. The solenoid was giving me that healthy click as a solenoid does

Il post a pic of the rewire tomorrow.

Many thanks to you guys for the advice.