Switches? Starter, Kill Switch, etc.

Novax

Seaman Apprentice
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Aug 19, 2012
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48
Looking for some ideas on switches for my boat. Need one for the starter with a choke (Keyed or maybe 2 push buttons, one for choke, one for the starter?) Safety Kill switch, kill switch if it's a push button start? Hook me up with some ideas. The motor is a 1976 Johnson 40HP.
 

MH Hawker

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Re: Switches? Starter, Kill Switch, etc.

All of those are normally built into the controller.
 

Novax

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Aug 19, 2012
Messages
48
Re: Switches? Starter, Kill Switch, etc.

I'm gonna have to add them :-( the wires have been cut and no switches on the boat...
 

Star

Chief Petty Officer
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Sep 21, 2010
Messages
481
Re: Switches? Starter, Kill Switch, etc.

Buy a three position ignition switch with a push to choke function right here on Iboats and you have solved all of your needs.
 

Novax

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Re: Switches? Starter, Kill Switch, etc.

Ok thanks. Another question, what does "Magneto Style" mean? Is that something that needs to be wired up or something that the motor needs to have or is it just the Style of the switch?
 

Silvertip

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Sep 22, 2003
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28,771
Re: Switches? Starter, Kill Switch, etc.

Outboard engines have a magneto ignition which means the magneto provides the electrical power and is part of the ignition system. The battery in a magneto system is not even needed after the engine is started. It is used only to spin the starter. Your car and I/O engines have a battery ignition system where the battery provides the electricity for the starter AND the ignition system. Because of these differences, the ignition switches are different. Magneto ignition requires that the ignition switch have the two "M" (magneto) terminals OPEN to allow the engine to run. The engine stops when the two "M" terminals (one of which is grounded) are connected thus shorting the magneto to ground killing the engine. The emergency kill switch is just another switch in that same system. On a battery ignition, +12 volts is always present on the "B" (battery) terminal on the ignition switch. The ignition system is energized when the key is turned to RUN at which time the "B" and "I" (ignition) terminals are connected. The engine dies when the key is returned to OFF sinice there is now no power to the ignition system. You need the correct ignition switch for your engine.

So lets get this right! Do you have the control box (shift/throttle)? If so, the switch is already there. I guess we need to know what you have, what you don't have, and what sort of boat this setup is on. You cannot have just one push to start and one push to choke switch. You would also need a push to stop. That also leaves the boat a prime target for theft.
 

Novax

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Aug 19, 2012
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48
Re: Switches? Starter, Kill Switch, etc.

This motor is a 1976 Johnson 40 HP Model #40E76R. The motor itself has a wiring harness on it and I'm pretty sure I have the wires figured out. I do have a throttle/shift control box but that's all it has is the throttle/shift levers, no switches. It is going on a 1983 Sea Nymph that has a console but again, no switches. In the pic below is the wires (Not counting the bigger red & black wires, which I'm gonna say go directly to the battery) that are on the motor.

Red=Battery?
Blue=1 set of points?
Blue/White=2nd set of points (I was told these need to be connected to each other in order to kill the motor)?
White=Starter?
Purple=Choke?

Right or wrong, I have no idea. Maybe someone can guide me on the right setup of these wires and the correct switch? Thanks for the replies so far.

101_0832.jpg
 

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
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Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
Re: Switches? Starter, Kill Switch, etc.

1) You need an ignition switch for a "magneto ignition system". That switch must include the "push to choke" feature.
2) The "B" terminal on the switch is +12 volts from the engine and is hot all the time. Wire is red.
3) The "S" terminal on the switch is active when the key is turned to start. Wire goes to small terminal on starter solenoid.
4) "C" = choke/primer and that wire feeds the choke or primer solenoid. It is active when you push in on the key while cranking.
5) "M" = Magneto. There are two "M" terminals. One goes to ground the other is the kill wire from the magneto on the engine. When the key is turned off the two "M" terminals are connected thus shorting the magneto to ground killing the engine.
7) "A" = accessory. This terminal feeds +12 volts to the instruments when the key is in the RUN position. It is NOT intended to power other accessories.

The wire colors for these circuits are covered in the service manual for your engine. Try your local library.
 

Novax

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Aug 19, 2012
Messages
48
Re: Switches? Starter, Kill Switch, etc.

Cool, thank you very much. Just ordered a switch from here :cool:
 
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