Re: 1978 85 hp Johnson V4 Starter Stuck engaged??
Sounds like a bad solenoid. Couple of other things to try. The ground wire to the solenoid could be the problem. Try jumping from the small ground terminal on the solenoid, to a known good ground. Then unhook the cable that goes from the solenoid to the starter. You need to be right next to the solenoid, and jump 12v to the small terminal (key does not have to be on). Do you hear the solenoid click? You should hear the plunger click each time you remove then apply 12v.
On another note, if your solenoid is your only problem now, you should be able to jump 12v from the battery + to the starter motor, and it should engage, turn high rpms, and disengage when the 12v is removed. You can leave the key off, so the motor will not start.
Sounds like a bad solenoid. Couple of other things to try. The ground wire to the solenoid could be the problem. Try jumping from the small ground terminal on the solenoid, to a known good ground. Then unhook the cable that goes from the solenoid to the starter. You need to be right next to the solenoid, and jump 12v to the small terminal (key does not have to be on). Do you hear the solenoid click? You should hear the plunger click each time you remove then apply 12v.
On another note, if your solenoid is your only problem now, you should be able to jump 12v from the battery + to the starter motor, and it should engage, turn high rpms, and disengage when the 12v is removed. You can leave the key off, so the motor will not start.
