1961 Johnson Seahorse RDSL-23 Bench testing Question

[SgtSabotage]

So this is probably a stupid question but here goes. I got this motor last year and the last time I started the motor it was attached to the boat in a bucket. Now the motor is on a stand in the garage and I want to start it to tune and check the work that I have done to it. I was just going to jump the starter but I am not sure about the 4 smaller wires in the connector for the motor. Do I need to jump them or tie any of them to ground? I have the main power that goes to the starter(solenoid is also removed and out of the equation). The main ground cable. Then I have a plug with 4 wires, 2 black wires on the outside and a white wire(or yellow...lke it was white once) and a brown wire. The 2 black wires are for the magneto I believe. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[lindy46]

Are you just wanting to check the starter to see if it spins? Just use jumper cables directly to the starter terminals. You can't start the motor to tune it without it being in a bucket or on the boat in the lake.

 

[SgtSabotage]

I made a stand and have a bucket set up. I guess what i am really asking is... Will I do any damage to the motor 'electronics' if I just jump the starter on the harness and leave the other wires disconnected? It is really hard to pull start.

 

[RCO]

The motor will start and run without any outside power, there is nothing electronic that can be damaged. You won't be able to shut it off unless you have the key hooked up, or make a jumper to ground the points.

 

[hardwater fisherman]

If using booster cables, ground the negative to the starter bracket and touch the positive to the positive lug on the starter.

 

[SgtSabotage]

So I should ground the two black wires when I want to shut it down? I wasn't thinking of that.. guess I would have used a rag to choke it out. Thanks everyone. I work on modern cars so this is out of my element.

 

[racerone]

Make sure water is well above the pump in your test bucket.---And yes you can stop the motor by touching the 2 black wires together.----Not much " tuning " can be done in a bucket.----What other work was done to the motor ?

 

[SgtSabotage]

I did plugs, wires, magnetos, thermostat, waterpump, cleaned the carb. I also wanted to check the oil in the lower gears but took out the wrong screw. What a pain that was getting it back together.

 

[racerone]

Yes , changing the oil is such an easy job and it can be done wrong.----You are not the first , nor the last to take out the pivot pin for the shift fork.

 

[SgtSabotage]

No Title

Here are some pics. I don't have after pics of the magnetos.

 

[tomhath]

To shut it off you can also use the choke.

 

[interalian]

Yes , changing the oil is such an easy job and it can be done wrong.----You are not the first , nor the last to take out the pivot pin for the shift fork.

Rule of thumb on the old 'rudes -if it's a phillips head screw, leave it alone. Service screws are slotted. (The recoil mounting screw on a 2hp Mate is phillips - that's all I'm going to say...)

 

[oldboat1]

You can test for spark spinning the flywheel clockwise by hand. Set it down over the key and spin it -- use your adjustable spark tester to check (both plugs out to lessen compression and to keep from accidental starting). If you fire it up, do that only after the flywheel is properly torqued down or you can sheer the key.

 

[SgtSabotage]

You can test for spark spinning the flywheel clockwise by hand. Set it down over the key and spin it -- use your adjustable spark tester to check (both plugs out to lessen compression and to keep from accidental starting). If you fire it up, do that only after the flywheel is properly torqued down or you can sheer the key.

umm yeah I could do that... but, the thing is that there is a cotter pin in the prop and I have spark because it runs with starter fuel. Oh yes and I like my fingers.

 

[oldboat1]

By starter fuel, I take it you mean a 2-cycle fuel mix squirted in, and additionally that you are not dry running it. Wear leather gloves -- have routinely done this many times and have all my fingers....