[hcrumbie]

My '70 Evinrude has been stored a few years. I went to start it, and after the checking most everything, put fuel to it and fired it up. It ran for about a second and I shut it down to check things out, but now the starter won't engage. I suspect it's something in the "selectric" shifter locking out the starter, but I haven't the slightest idea how to start diagnosing this problem.I appreciate ANY help 'yall may have to offer.RR

[almost retired again]

Hey Riverrat;The most proble cause is the neutral safty switch on the port side of the engine, as the ground for the starter selonid goes through that switch. Seeing as how it started the first time, thats where I would start.Good luck

[hcrumbie]

Got it started...here's how.While searching this forum, I found a post that seemed to imply that the motor won't shift unless it's running....now how to get it running when it's in gear to allow it to shift???As the prop was already off, I setup the water supply, turned the ignition on and used the rope!! Off it went. Started working it through the gears and all 3 worked fine. I placed it in neutral and shut it down, then tried the starter. All worked fine! RR

[oldboat1]

I had a '70 85hp with the Selectric shift. I recall there was a lockout device (a plastic piece) that fit over the buttons on the inside of the box. The object was to prevent the user from physically pushing in the forward or reverse buttons unless the lever was in the neutral detent position -- which is also the only position which would close the electrical circuit to the starter. Does this figure in somehow?The plastic piece on mine broke, so I was able to start the motor in gear and push in the buttons regardless of the throttle lever position.