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I am just now getting my 1970 Currituck running again, after four years in "dry dock". Does the 1976 85hp Johnson have a warning horn that should beep once on start-up to show that it is working?

I ran the boat three weeks ago for the first time in several years, after some extensive repair work, and forgot all about the overheating warning horn until I read about it in some of this on-line Whaler stuff. I then recalled that my horn did not sound on start-up, nor has it sounded any time I have run it on the water hose/muffler. In fact I now don't remember ever hearing it beep on start-up as long as I have had the boat, which is about seven years. Come to think of it, I never heard one sound on the 1986 Johnson 90 VRO I had on a Montauk, nor did I hear one sound on the mid-90s Johnson 150 I had on an 18 Outrage.

Any clarification on this subject will be appreciated.

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Only the newer warning horns will sound when you turn the key switch on.
Not sure what year they started with the new horn but you can replace the older horns with the newer version as long as you check the part numbers to make sure they will work on your engine.
http://www.whalercentral.com/articles...ticle_id=9

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Thanks Joe, I'll check it out tomorrow...if it doesn't snow to much tonight!

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Joe, thanks so much for the link to the information about the horn. I tested mine today (1976 Johnson 85hp) and it beeped when I grounded it. The horn is obviously up in the control box, right? How hard it it to replace? The last time I disassembled the control box, the detent balls fell out and I had to get help reassembling it. I don't relish doing that again.

I would like to have one that beeps on startup to let me know it is functional, but I con't want to wrestle that control box again.

I

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No, most horns are outside the control box.
You can even buy a horn cover that looks like a speaker cover for the horn.
See this article on switches and horn bezels. The horn cover is #5 photo.
http://www.whalercentral.com/articles...icle_id=74

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I have an '89 Johnson 90 VRO (disabled) the horn of which chirps when the key is turned on. It will also sound if the fuel supply is inadequate (explained in owners manual) because of inadequate hose diameter, carb problem, or fuel supply air leak.

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A 1976 control box has the horn mounted inside of it. The original horn does not have an automatic self-test beep system, but does have a slot to ground out the horn terminal by using the key or a small screwdriver.

I believe the "self-test" horn came out around 1992 or so. It can be recognized by a short black ground wire in addition to the 2 spade terminals which are for keyswitch 12V and the engine warning system.