1957 Johnson 35HP - Where do the electric start controls go?

[adt2]

The '57 Johnson I bought a few years ago for our wood skiff project has got what appears to be an owner-added, jury-rigged electric start system on it - complete with push-button switches duct-taped to the front of the motor. Pretty sure that's not how it came from the factory..

I've got some time to devote to it now (as opposed to just making it start so we can get onto the water), and I'd like to improve the setup some. It looks like there's a junction box that should be mounted to the boat's transom (as opposed to bolting the solenoid to the inside of the motor cowling, which is what I have now). There also appears to be some kind of switch plate with spaces to mount the push-button switches - but I can't for the life of me figure out where that would get mounted. Manual shows the parts, but not their location (they're just kind of floating). Anybody got any ideas, or a photo?

 

[gm280]

I've seen some ...well....let's just say interesting make overs with folks installing starters and such on things. I only wish they would have thought of safety first when doing so. If you already have the starter installed and it fits pretty much like it should have from the factory, then leave that alone and work on the starter solenoid and key or push switch. All a starter solenoid is, is basically a relay. And the reason for that is to protect a push switch from trying to carry huge amounts of current when the starter is engaged. So they install a relay to handle the high current instead of a little switch. So you need a starter relay and if not the factory type, then most any type automotive starter relay will work for your engine. Just understand how the starter relay is internally wired before connecting it up. Obviously you will hook up the positive battery terminal to one of the larger threaded terminals on the solenoid, and the other side threaded terminal gets connected to the starter input. Then there is usually two smaller terminals as well on the solenoid. One is either going to ground, or to ground through a neutral safety switch. The last remaining small terminal is connected to the wire coming from the key switch or push switch. The other wire on the push switch is connected to the positive side of the battery. Then when you press the push switch, it applies voltage to the starter solenoid and locks in the relay to allow huge amounts of current flow to the starter... Hope that is a little help...

 

[adt2]

I can't find a junction box and switch plate assembly, so I made up my own. It's tacky, but it's better than duct tape. Got a deep weatherproof outlet box at Lowe's and a blank cover plate, then drilled holes in the plate for the pushbuttons and bolted the whole assembly to the front of the motor bracket. Looks awful - but better than the original taped-up mess, and works like a charm.