Help wiring solenoid to electric start push button and battery

[Illinois]

New boat owner here. I have a 1963 40 HP Johnson that runs great. My problem is I'm a electrical idiot. This is what I have.<br /><br />Motor: <br /><br />Negative cable with battery connector.<br />Positive cable that attaches to solenoid. <br />Positive cable that attaches to battery from solenoid. <br />Two wires that somehow connect to electric push button start mounted on console by steering console. <br /><br />Solenoid: <br />Post on each side.<br />Two small screw connectins marked S and I. Start and Ignition I think?<br /><br />Lights<br /><br />Bow and Stern lights on toggle switch also mounted by steering console.<br /><br />I've got the lights working..small victory. Still wondering best way to connect for power source...battery or solenoid? <br /><br />So, I need to figure this out. I can get the motor to fire but only by connecting the two wires from the motor for the elctric start directly to the battery. I can't figure out how to use the push start and the solenoid together. I've got close but keep getting direct power. <br /><br />I sure would like some help from anybody. You will have to walk me through it because I'm clueless. I have been all over the net and can't get a basic wiring diagram for the motor, solenoid, and push start. <br /> Thanks!!

 

[SlowlySinking]

Re: Help wiring solenoid to electric start push button and battery

Hi Illinois, Given that you have a 1963 40 HP Johnson I safely assume you have a points and condensor ignition system. So here goes,<br /><br />Negative cable with battery connector. this connects between the battery negative terminal and the engine block.<br /><br />Positive cable that attaches to solenoid. this connects between one large terminal on the solenoid and the large terminal on the starter motor.<br /><br />Positive cable that attaches to battery from solenoid. this connects between the positive battery terminal and the other large terminal on the solenoid as you noted.<br /><br />Two wires that somehow connect to electric push button start mounted on console by steering console. Solenoid: Post on each side.<br />Two small screw connectins marked S and I. Start and Ignition I think? <br />You're correct on what S&I mean; the S terminal connects to one side of the push to start button, the other side of the push to start button connects to the positive terminal of the battery and possibly through an engine ON/OFF <br />or ignition switch, the connection to the battery may not be directly to the battery, it may connect to some source of 12 volt current, but it does the same thing. The I terminal is used to bypass the ignition circuit resistor when starting the engine, this allows the full 12 volts from the battery to the coil to give a hotter spark for starting, after the engine starts the coil gets voltage from the ignition switch and then through the ignition resistor which reduces the voltage to extend the coil life. This wire would go from the solenoid I terminal to the positive terminal of the ignition coil, there would also be another wire on the positive coil terminal that connects to a dash area engine ON/OFF or ignition switch which starts and shuts the engine off. One point, this is how it works in a car engine and your boat should be similar, wihtout a wiring diagram it gets a bit harder. Hope this helps.

 

[Lark40]

Re: Help wiring solenoid to electric start push button and battery

If your '63 is like my '60, then it is the opposite of a car ignition. The engine operates when the switch is open, not closed. The engine does not need a battery to run, it is magneto ignited, like a lawnmower. A battery is only used to crank the starter. <br /><br />The best explanation is the Clymer 1956-1972 Johnson/Evinrude Repair Manual, available at any marine store. It has diagrams of all the wiring configurations by year and horsepower.

 

[Illinois]

Re: Help wiring solenoid to electric start push button and battery

Thanks Guys, I'm headed to the garage! I'll update with progress...