New to me boat/motor with lost key

[tommybro31]

Hi All.
Well I hope I got a score. I e-bayed a 1970 70 HP Johnson and won it for $75 The guy says it did run a "while ago" but he is unable to start it becuase he does not have the key. I guess it was left by someone that used to own the jouse or something. It's sitting on a 16ft trihull with a trailer that there was not good pics of but I figure I can always take the motor and controls for that price and leave the rest for him to take care of.

Now comes my question. I have seen on this forum that you can order a new switch or call a locksmith but for testing is there a way I can hot wire this or just add some toggle switches to get it up and running?

Any advice is appreciated
Thanks in advance
Tom

 

[mafhuntfish]

Re: New to me boat/motor with lost key

You could wire in a momentary pushbutton for starting or try all the old keys that you have sitting around the house - you might find one that will work. One of the ignition switches that I have has an older chevy oval door key in it & it works great.

 

[lindy46]

Re: New to me boat/motor with lost key

I had the same problem. Take the switch to a Johnnyrude dealer, and have them get you the proper key. There were only maybe a half dozen keys for those locks and they will probably stock all of them. Just try various keys until they find the one that works.

 

[tommybro31]

Re: New to me boat/motor with lost key

Thanks for the answers !!!

I go tonight to pick it up. I will update this thread with what I find out. Hopefully I did not waste my money

 

[Chris1956]

Re: New to me boat/motor with lost key

Tommy, On most outboards, the ignition is grounded when the key is off. On these motors, you may disconnect the boat wiring harness and jumper the starter solenoid to start the motor. You need to operate the choke manually for cold start and choke to kill the motor.

 

[tommybro31]

Re: New to me boat/motor with lost key

Hi,
I got the motor last night, the boat it was on was not worth saving ( rotted everything )

The motor is clean inside the cover and I was able to jump a few wires inside the keyswitch to make it turn over so I think that is good news. I did try a key from another boat and a few spare keys I had around, none of them worked

now here is my question. On the keyswitch there are 4 plain purple wires, one of these runs to the choke. there is also a red and white.

If I think I have this right for testing I should be able to run all the purples togather then coss the white and red to make it fire. Al I thinking the correct way ?

Also if I just disconnect the harness and jump the selonoid I wouldn't be able to shift this into gear correct? I am hoping to fully test this engine before putting on the boat or spending money on parts before I at least know it runs and shifts.

Thanks in advance for any guidance you can offer

 

[lindy46]

Re: New to me boat/motor with lost key

Hi,
I did try a key from another boat and a few spare keys I had around, none of them worked

Again: "I had the same problem. Take the switch to a Johnnyrude dealer, and have them get you the proper key. There were only maybe a half dozen keys for those locks and they will probably stock all of them. Just try various keys until they find the one that works." . . They only cost a couple bucks.

 

[F_R]

Re: New to me boat/motor with lost key

To give an intelligent answer your wiring questions, it would help to know what you really have so we can look at a wiring diagram. There is no such thing as a 1970 70hp. Model number please???

A "real" locksmith can make a key from the code number stamped next to the keyhole. Trouble is real locksmiths are hard to find in some areas.

 

[tommybro31]

Re: New to me boat/motor with lost key

I'm so sorry I was a MORON in my first post I must have been thinking of my old motor

The motor is a 1970 85 HP here is the model number

85FS170B

I just would like to "hot wire" this thing to test it, then I will spend the money on a key / locksmith / new switch. I want to make sure it runs before dumping any more money into it.

Thanks for any ideas

 

[tommybro31]

Re: New to me boat/motor with lost key

Hi All,
Update, I bit the bullet and tried the screwdriver thing, it did work for one or 2 turns then stopped working. After that I tried a bunch of keys I had around and an old Toyota key does the trick now.

Thanks to all that responded

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: New to me boat/motor with lost key

You are dealing with a battery CD ignition. Watch what you jump, or leave disconnected.