Does my Johnson seahorse have a starter motor/alternator?

[tmeo]

I have a 1984 Johnson Seahorse Longshaft sailmaster outboard. It has loads of wires and things in side, and there is a small piece of cable, (like mains electrical cable) which has been cut off, coming out of the front of the engine (it has been disconnected from somehwere inside.) I was just wondering whether it might still have an alternator or starter motor somewhere inside that has been disconnected at some time. How would I get these going again? (and what do they look like) <br />Here are some photos of the engine:<br />(the wire that has been disconnected can be seen in the bottom right hand corner

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[Hooty]

Re: Does my Johnson seahorse have a starter motor/alternator?

Could you post a foto of the port side of the engine?<br /><br />c/6<br /><br />Hooty

 

[tmeo]

Re: Does my Johnson seahorse have a starter motor/alternator?

Here it is:<br />

 

[Hooty]

Re: Does my Johnson seahorse have a starter motor/alternator?

The engine has an alternator and electric starter. The starter is the small motor with the gears that engage the flywheel gears. To the right of that (in the foto) is a round metal canister with yellow wires. This is the rectifier. It changes a/c to d/c to charge a battery. You'll be time and money ahead if you get a repair manual for the engine. You can order one by clicking on the "Repair Manual" icon in the lower lefthand corner of this page.<br /><br />g'luck & c/6<br /><br />Hooty

 

[tmeo]

Re: Does my Johnson seahorse have a starter motor/alternator?

Sorry; do you mean the starter motor is actually in side the round bit which has the pull cord around it? I assume you must, as I can't see a motor any where else....<br /><br />I will get a manual, but is it really just a matter of connecting a cable to the terminals where the yellow wires are?

 

[Xcusme]

Re: Does my Johnson seahorse have a starter motor/alternator?

Tim, You have a manual starter only...No there's no electric starter 'inside' in the manual starter.

 

[Specks n Reds]

Re: Does my Johnson seahorse have a starter motor/alternator?

 

[tmeo]

Re: Does my Johnson seahorse have a starter motor/alternator?

I see (i got confused by a previous post which says I have an electric starter.)<br /><br />Going back to the alternator - is it just a matter of connecting the wires?

 

[tmeo]

Re: Does my Johnson seahorse have a starter motor/alternator?

Forget the last post; I have just tested the terminals with my voltmeter, and there is electricty there. <br />If I want to use it to charge a battery in the boat, do I just connect the wires straight to the battery, or do I need to put a device (like some sort of diode) in line to stop the charge coming back to the engine (or does the engine have protection against that already?)

 

[tmeo]

Re: Does my Johnson seahorse have a starter motor/alternator?

Forget the last post; I have just tested the terminals with my voltmeter, and there is electricty there. What voltage should it be?<br />If I want to use it to charge a battery in the boat, do I just connect the wires straight to the battery, or do I need to put a device (like some sort of diode) in line to stop the charge coming back to the engine (or does the engine have protection against that already?)

 

[tmeo]

Re: Does my Johnson seahorse have a starter motor/alternator?

I tested it and it works ok.

 

[Xcusme]

Re: Does my Johnson seahorse have a starter motor/alternator?

What DC voltage did you get?? The little round bit on the side of the power head is a full wave bridge rectifier. It changes the A/C voltage generated by the motor into Direct Current (DC).<br />Just for grins, switch your meter to A/C volts and see if you have any A/C component (voltage)present. A bad diode in the rectifier can introduce some A/C voltage to your battery, and that isn't good.

 

[Hooty]

Re: Does my Johnson seahorse have a starter motor/alternator?

Oops. The little white chingaso looked like a starter motor at first but upon closer examination, I see that it's a recoil starter. Don't hook any wires to it. <br /><br />c/6<br /><br />Hooty

 

[tmeo]

Re: Does my Johnson seahorse have a starter motor/alternator?

I'll test it. <br />When I do connect it to the battery (assuming there's no a/c getting in) is it OK just to connect it stright to the battery?

 

[oldboat1]

Re: Does my Johnson seahorse have a starter motor/alternator?

If you have operated the motor without a battery connected, you will have burned out the rectifier. This is not fatal -- about $30 or so (here) to replace it. It should be the silver device with a triangular base -- either a two wire or a three wire (three, I think, for your horsepower). Replace it with a similar OMC unit with the same number of wires in order to restore the motor's battery-charging function.

 

[tmeo]

Re: Does my Johnson seahorse have a starter motor/alternator?

Right, will do. What is the point of having several devices; I tested them and they all seem to provide the same voltage. <br /><br />And once again, can I just connect the battery straight to the terminals in the engine without having to worry about about "reverse" protection?

 

[oldboat1]

Re: Does my Johnson seahorse have a starter motor/alternator?

sorry Tim. I wouldn't hazzard a guess without a wiring diagram for the motor in front of me (and would probably want to look at the motor as well). If you can find a similar Sailmaster (or Evinrude Yachtwin) in the marina, try to get a look under the hood to see what the intact wiring looks like.