[ambien]

I have a 1977 35hp Evinrude that has, all of the sudden, refused to start.
I can't even get a cough out of the thing, and after taking the cover off I noticed a sheared off plastic piece that inserts into the flywheel assembly.

Basically, there is a small plastic piece that inserts into the flywheel assembly, and as the flywheel turns small metal flanges hit this plastic piece causing it to rock back and forth slightly. This is the best description I can give. I can't find it on any parts diagrams either.

Can anyone tell me, based on my pretty weak description, what this piece is? I'm thinking it's part of the neutral safety switch. However, I can still pull the cord, so maybe not?

[Whoopbass]

Sounds like the neutral safety switch to me as long as your outboard is started with a rope. The plastic neutral safety switch is usually white in color and there is two plastic parts that make it engage or disengage.
As long as you can pull the rope it should fire so it sounds like you have something else wrong with your motor. Might want to check and see if you have spark and then go from there.

[tx1961whaler]

That part sounds like it is the nylon pawl for the manual starter.

[tashasdaddy]

neutral safety switch is on the shift side of the motor. sounds like a pawl. #11 in diagram. http://shop2.evinrude.com/ext/index....cfd8a6471c0f7f

[Chinewalker]

Did the 35 have a starter lock-out to prevent the pull-starter from being pulled in gear? I know my 22-cubers did, can't remember if the 31s did... I suspect Ambien is confusing his recoil with his flywheel...

[ambien]

Okay. Yes I am confusing the flywheel with the recoil. But since I can still pull it, I'm assuming this is not the problem, and I should look elsewhere. This shouldn't effect ignition in any way, right?