TOPIC: 59 Johnson Super Seahorse 35 electric start issue

Glassers,
I can jump the starter and motor
runs great,at the end of the harness
on the dash,the choke button works and
moves carb,when I go to turn key,nothing.
I did replace key switch wire for wire with one
that had a key in it,original had no key.I'm not the
best when it comes to wiring,I also had someone jump the
solinoid and it also started,did not see how he did this.
how do I test the key switch or solinoid.

Thanks,
Rick

Rick, this happens more often than some of us will admit. I would guess that one of the wires is on a wrong terminal. If you look closely at the back of the switch there are small letters embossed.
"S" should go directly to the solenoid.
"A" if you have it will go to the choke switch, temp warning.
"M" will go to the cut out switch.
"M" (the other M) will to the distributor base breaker points
"BATT" will go to the hot side of the solenoid, (red battery wire end)
If you put a jumper wire across "S" and "BATT" it should turn over. If not I suspect your replacement switch is bad.
If a solenoid is bad sometime you will hear them click or shudder. A solenoid is just a magnet activated contact between the two large wires. When you turn the key it sends power to the magnet, pulls a center bar up to make contact between the two larger wires (red on one side and the other to the starter motor. This keeps heavy voltage off your key switch (makes 'em smoke).

A side note, those keys are easily replaced. There is usually a number stamped right on the key entry point or around there. That is the number for the key. If you take it to most hardware stores or key places they can make a key for you using that number.

Hope this helps.
Cal

Cal, thanks for info,I will look on back of switch.
will put u on speed dial.Can I put 1 jump wire on rt.side of
solenoid and to red (Hot) on starter,will that start motor?

Make sure that the motor is out of gear and that the throttle is not advanced too much.

If still a no go then check safety switch (mercury) to be sure that it is OK

Follow the tall Texan advice.
If you turn the key to the "on" position and jump the two large solenoid terminals it should turn over and start butt....always the but, there will be a lot of sparking around a pretty open fuel system. If you leave the key in the off position it will still turn over but will not run. Be careful.

gents,

having a moment to work on proplem with starting
here's what I have. On the switch I have 2 "S" posts
and 2 "M" posts. The push button on choke is working
the butterfly on carb,There is a green wire jumped from
choke button to one S post on key switch.this has to be
the hot because it goes to solinod with battery hot.I tried
to jump this green on post to the other 3 wires on switch,one
at a time,nothing. then I went to solinod and jumped the one
side of the solinod large post to the other side,large post to motor
and the starter moves.Is this as simple as a bad
solinod? there was no clicking of solinod when I tried
jumping the switch. What do ynz think?

Rick

Pittsburgh Pa.

if your jumping the 2 large post on the starter solenoid your just bypassing it... when you turn the key to the crank pos.. one wire should be hot going to the starter solenoid.. that would be one of the small wires on it.. look to see if you have power to the small terminal on the solenoid when someone is cranking it.. you can put power to the small terminal to energize the solenoid and it should crank. that would tell you if the solenoid is good or not...

and if you do alot of electrical work you'd love a ( Power Probe ) i havent picked up a test light since getting mine...

Rick, where did you get your switch ? I need the same one,hard to find. I had one of the terminals fall off. thanks madbohunk safe boating

Guys, I just looked at the back of
The key switch, there are 4 posts. 2 are marked
With "S" 2 are marked with "m". No "B" .
Maybe this is why I get nothing when I turn key.
The one wire(green) is attached to one of
The "S" posts. What do u think, where can I get
Online a 4 post , S,M,M, B key switch,
Thanks,

Rick

Rick, Shoot me an e-mail with your phone # , its eaiser for me to explain how mine is wired up. i have the same switch 2 s and 2 m . found a nos on e-bay. same key # too. very lucky. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This is way I love this web sight,Talked with Bob,(Madbohunk)
today and his final thought before saying goodby was the key
to getting my motor to start with key switch.I was not aware
that if the throttle is at the end of start mode,the motor won"t
fire.I backed it off an inch and had the starter finally start,something to do with the merc switch I think.
Thanks to all who gave there opinion,sometimes its the simplest
things.this is how you learn.

Thanks,

Rick

Amen!