1981 35hp evinrude. What to do next.

[Isaacsonnebe]

Hello I’m 15 years old and I bought a 1981 evinrude 35 hp electric start for $150. Compression readings are 115-120 and it has spark. Previous owner cut the controls so I’ve been jumping the starter. The ground wire for the solenoid is bad. Just curious as to what my next steps would be. Looking to sell it once I get it running. Any advice is welcome I just don’t know where I should go from here. Thanks for taking a look at it!

 

[jimmbo]

Welcome to iboats
One of the First things you should do, is make sure there is some Gear Oil in the Lower Unit. Next would be at minimum a new Water Pump Impeller. But before that, I would recommend a Factory Service Manual for that specific Year and Model of that engine:

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/137422674787?_skw=service+manual+for+1981+35hp+Evinrude&itmmeta=01KVCPTEEYXA16Q4BS3E1FMYRG&hash=item1fff079b63:g:OZwAAeSw9XlqMYaQ&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAAA4GfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xAlFSC6wD2nAq0kr%2FOcBhZH0hDU6PNU7M3QY1X8ni7x%2BurkZGKcL%2BNWEsQgHgJ7mSilm3e1jxZpwxbF9e1g85qsbINNka3m%2FiqBYwnEDNTj8fukGk7p31whv9jc%2BibLvlZxLW7XRztE9aEMDlOBc7io9FPEzvTrOxh2AG3zvApi5Cz9EDw2rGjQIdmU%2BvPavunVNNRhgbqykSQjut9VTrlerguOklzN27kAUfaGDbQeKKrbCiDQbNK3VwBd6GoMbFt5VVXG%2BrKb1NX%2FrmM6%2FJU4%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4ro6ZbbZw

 

[saltchuckmatt]

I've restored a bunch of those...for some reason I had to redo the wiring harness on the motor...wires rot out. Peel back some of the tape and look at the condition of the wires. Compression is good, now do a spark gap test...looking for a 3/8 gap test. Easy to sink to much money into these old gals when trying to make a profit. Max Rules Evinrude wiring layout for how to make a harness. Good luck.

 

[Crosbyman]

ok your project is almost a modern engine with electronics and all but...it is the grand child of a long established community of oldies ( JOhnson RDs being cousins) and much of your servicing involves the same concepts incl.. stuff like carbutarors .

download yourself a copy of this free book even if it is not covering 1985 stuff.

https://www.socalaomci.com/library/johnson_service_manual_10th_edition.pdf

 

[saltchuckmatt]

ok your project is almost a modern engine with electronics and all but...it is the grand child of a long established community of oldies ( JOhnson RDs being cousins) and much of your servicing involves the same concepts incl.. stuff like carbutarors .

download yourself a copy of this free book even if it is not covering 1985 stuff.

https://www.socalaomci.com/library/johnson_service_manual_10th_edition.pdf

Those motors have different carBUTarators. Lol...to the 15 year old, might be a little confusing. I'll see if I have some newer info. Peace!

 

[jimmbo]

An 81 would still use, a pretty much a basic old fashioned Carb, with a High Speed orifice, and a Adjustable Low Speed Needle, and a Choke Valve, not really much different from a mid 60s 40hp, except those Carbs had an Automatic Choke

 

[saltchuckmatt]

An 81 would still use, a pretty much a basic old fashioned Carb, with a High Speed orifice, and a Adjustable Low Speed Needle, and a Choke Valve, not really much different from a mid 60s 40hp, except those Carbs had an Automatic Choke

Agreed, but points and condensers vrs pp and gearcase are the two biggest differences. Older ones slightly more finicky.

Books will always be good but there's SO much online now....schematics and advice.

That and I was poking fun at Crosbyman.

 

[Isaacsonnebe]

Those motors have different carBUTarators. Lol...to the 15 year old, might be a little confusing. I'll see if I have some newer info. Peace!

I've restored a bunch of those...for some reason I had to redo the wiring harness on the motor...wires rot out. Peel back some of the tape and look at the condition of the wires. Compression is good, now do a spark gap test...looking for a 3/8 gap test. Easy to sink to much money into these old gals when trying to make a profit. Max Rules Evinrude wiring layout for how to make a harness. Good luck.

Ugh so I have to redo the whole wiring harness for one ground wire? It was probably wishful thinking but I hoped I wouldn’t have to do that. Thanks for the info

 

[jimmbo]

Someone has already been messing in there and has shortened One Wire too much. Love the Mess on the Hot Solenoid Terminal.
The One Red wire, looks like it had gotten shorted to ground, got Hot, and melted the Insulation, since there there are other wires in the Harness, their Insulation may also be melted and may have also shorted, to each other, or to ground. At least you need to exam all wires in the Harness,

 

[Isaacsonnebe]

Someone has already been messing in there and has shortened One Wire too much. Love the Mess on the Hot Solenoid Terminal.
The One Red wire, looks like it had gotten shorted to ground, got Hot, and melted the Insulation, since there there are other wires in the Harness, their Insulation may also be melted and may have also shorted, to each other, or to ground. At least you need to exam all wires in the Harness,

Correct me if I’m wrong but I believe that’s from rodent damage. I forgot to mention that there was an abandoned nest In it.

 

[saltchuckmatt]

Okay, still had the last harness for an 1981 35....not sure why but this is 3 that I've redone. I'm thinking maybe was hooked up backwards once but who knows. It's what's under the tape. This one ran but would cut out at high speed.