198? Evinrude 35, starter keeps spinning

[clj]

A week or so ago, I posted about my grandson's outboard leaking fuel and catching on fire. That issue was fixed when I replaced the fuel pump with a brand new one. The old one leaked.

After replacing the pump and checking for leaks, the engine fired up and settled down to a smooth idle. This is an electric start engine, although I could remove the cowling and wrap a rope around the flywheel and pull start in an emergency.

Anyway, the cowling was off and I noticed that the starter motor was still spinning, but the bendix was not engaged. I turned the key off, engine stops and the starter stopped spinning. I then restarted the engine with the starter (bendix pops up, turns the engine over, engine starts, bendix goes down, I turn the key back to run, but the starter still spins).

I then removed the spark plug leads. Turn the key to start, bendix pops up, turns over the engine. I turn the key back to run, bendix pops down but the starter still spins. I turn the key off, starter stops spinning.

The only power going to the starter is via the solenoid. So, I assuming that it is defective, or there is some sort of electrical issue that is telling the solenoid to engage but not provide enough power to cause the bendix to pop up?

 

[F_R]

Your last sentence...an electrical issue activating the solenoid. Check the voltages at the two small solenoid terminals when the starter is running but should not be running. Should be zero volts.

 

[boobie]

Let us know what happens ??

 

[clj]

An update.

My grandson was given this outboard from a friend of his dad. It has an Evinrude 35 cowling on it, but I cannot find any serial number tag on it. The motor has been freshly painted, by whom I do not know, so, maybe the tag was painted over or removed because of that.

So, I am not sure about the model and certainly not sure about the year.

There is a grounding wire that goes from the starter solenoid to what I think is the start in neutral only switch on the starboard side of the engine. With the key on to run, the starter engages (without having to move the key switch to the start position), if the engine is in neutral. If the engine is in foward or reverse and I turn the key to run, the starter does not engage. If I remove the wire that (yellow with a red tracer) that goes to the neutral switch and ground it, the starter turns. So, I assume that the start in neutral switch is OK and that wire is OK.

I did replace the key switch with a brand new one that I had laying around and it did not fix the problem.

When I hooked a volt meter up and check the other wire that goes to the starter solenoid, I have 12V nominal with the key in run. So, I would think that I have a short between that wire and positive somewhere in the harness?

With the engine running, the starter still spins. If I put it in gear, the starter stops spinning, which indicates that the start in neutral switch is working since I think that is what controls the ground to solenoid.

Does anyone know where the engine tag should be on the 35? Is it a glued on tag, or are the numbers stamped? I was thinking that I might be able to remove the paint where it is supposed to be.

 

[racerone]

Wires are not hooked up correctly or you do not have the correct key switch.---Stop and sort it out before you damage starter or ignition components.-----Find a wiring diagram.

 

[F_R]

You wrote "

When I hooked a volt meter up and check the other wire that goes to the starter solenoid, I have 12V nominal with the key in run. So, I would think that I have a short between that wire and positive somewhere in the harness?" You've pretty much diagnosed it yourself. Somehow, positive voltage is reaching that wire. Either a short, or bad key switch, or a wiring error. It's up to you to find it.​

 

[racerone]

Are there 2 terminals marked with " M " on the switch you had laying around , yes , no or not sure about that ?

 

[clj]

I figured it out. The switch was wired wrong. When I replaced it with a new one, I hooked up the wires to the same terminals as before, which turned out to be wrong. The starter wire was hooked up to the 'A' (accessory) terminal, which goes hot whenever the key is on. My eyes are so bad that I could not see the letters on the switch. After whipping out my magnifying glass I noticed it. And, the choke wire was hooked up to the starter terminal. The other wires were OK.

Now, I gotta find an applicable service manual and make sure nothing else is hooked up wrong before I let my grandson start using it.

Thanks for the advice and suggestions.

 

[oldboat1]

The yr and model of your motor is still undetermined, but here is a wiring diagram for an early '80s model:
https://maxrules.com/graphics/omc/wiring/25_35_82-83_elec-remote.jpg

The red/yellow wire would be a positive connection between key switch, safety switch and solenoid. Note that one of the small solenoid posts is a ground, and the other one goes to the safety switch and start position of the key switch.

You might also check to see that your starter solenoid is not an automotive model.