Re: 1975 evinrude will start if the two hots at soleinod touched with a piece of wire
ok got a meter and on the ohms setting i am getting power fromthe safety switch when the button is pressed. I am getting power to the ignition switch, but when testing the solenoid I am not getting power to the white wire on the solenoid and i am hooked to the ground wire on the solenoid. hoked to the ground on the solenoid i get readings on the battery hooked to the top of solenoid and power to starter side but not on the white wire on solenoid.
Maybe some problems here using the meter.
1) If you are on the "ohms" setting, you should not be checking for "power"...that is a fast way to damage your meter.
2) Ohms setting checks continuity in wires...lets you know if there is a break between point A and point B.
3) It is probably safest to check continuity with the battery ground disconnected. That way you don't need to worry about accidentally putting 12 volts through the ohmmeter loop.
4) Checking for voltage. use the DC voltage setting .
I would suggest 3 tests to start:
Disconnect the primary (+) wire from the solenoid.
1) Test the solenoid primary circuit...with meter set to Ohms, test between the two primary posts on the solenoid.The reading should be less than a couple of ohms. If you get a very high reading, the solenoid is toast.
2) Test from the negative primary post on the solenoid to a good ground on the engine. The reading should approach 0...zero. If it is higher, the problem is with the ground.
3) If both those tests are OK, now check for correct power feed. Set meter to DC volts.
Test between the positive lead which you disconnected and a good ground. Positive lead of meter on the wire, negative lead to ground post on solenoid. You should get 12V.
