TOPIC: Where do I begin?

1959 Johnson 35 Electric Start:
I had it running in the driveway, trailered it to the cottage 2 hours away, I was getting ready to dump it in for a ride, hooked up the battery, turned the key, ...... and nothing??? Pushed the choke button, and .......... nothing? Tried the lights, and ..... they worked perfectly. I am looking for suggestions on where to begin to trace down the issue. (She worked perfectly before the trailer ride)
I left the boat at the lake, and drove back home (2hours) for a Vodka and advice. (By the way, I had to go up anyway to help put in a pontoon and cut some grass)

Thanks,
StevieB
(A beginner Outboard Guy)

check cables from battery to motor especially the ground cable. next step is to use milti meter to check ignition switch wires. does motor have back up recoil to see if she will start?

I had the same issue with a 1961 gale 35 then I discovered that if the throttle is advanced to far there is a lockout that prevents the starter from engaging as it assumes that the motor is in gear if your throttle is that far forward. I suspect that when everything was new 50+ years ago you probably couldn't get the throttle past that point while in Neutral but all things seem to get a bit loose with age! For what it's worth try messing with throttle position before you start looking too deep.
Al

That model has a mercury switch on it.that can

come loose
have a wire break.
or just go bad...

check it

Where might the mercury switch be located?
Thanks

The mercury switch is located just behind the point where you hook up your throttle cable to the motor on the gear that transfers the movement to the vertical rod

Al,
Thanks. I will be going Up North to the cottage on Thursday or Friday and take a closer look. I was so disappointed last Friday, I did not want to even look at her. I spent all Winter restoring the 1959 14 foot Owens Speedship, and ventured into changing the head, rebuilding the carb, and changing the impeller on the 1959 Johnson 35hp, something I have never done before. I started her at home, with no issues, then, after the drive Up North, man was I disappointed when I turned the start key and nothing, then tried to push the electric choke button, and nothing. I slid her into the garage, thru the cover on, and just walked out the door.

Hopefully it is just something very simple. And, .... sometimes the simple ones are hard to spot.

Until next week, please throw any and all ideas my way, and I will check them out next Thursday/Friday.

Regards,
StevieB

StevieB,

Your disappointment is WHY I automatically replace the points, plugs, condensers, coils, all the wiring, flush the lower unit, replace the oil and the water-pump impeller on ALL antique motors, REGARDLESS of how new that they LOOK.
(These parts are over 40 years old on "our motors" & are cheap & easy to replace.)
NAPA Auto Parts stores sell the parts as SIERRA.

BEST WISHES.

yours, satx

Well, sometimes you need to just walk away and get refreshed. after a trip back to the cabin, a cold one and a smoke on my vintage pipe, it was under the dash for my first look see. Low and behold, there it was, a disconnected wire from the vibration of the trailer trip. A new connector, and varoom! Wake Speed!

Thanks to all for yor ideas!
Regards,
StevieB

And, remember, you can ALWAYS, manually start the motor. Just MAKE SURE IT'S IN NEUTRAL!!! And the key is 'ON', throttle is in START position, pull out the CHOKE, pull the start rope, vrrrrooom, push in the choke and warm up.... The only function the electric starter does, is spin the motor...it does not need power to run...