Johnson 15 hp starter solenoid

[mwt022]

My son got a "free" boat from my wife's uncle and now he and I are trying to it put back together and get it running. The motor is a 2000 Johnson 15 hp, model J15TESSM. It was formerly an electric start engine, but the last time my wife's uncle took it in for service, the starter wasn't working and he wasn't willing to pay another $285 to get it fixed. It runs fine with the pull start but we would like to fix the electric start. The starter solenoid is gone and it appears the wire coming from the starter button is now attached directly to the bottom of the starter.

Two questions:

1.) This is probably a dumb question. I can see the lugs for mounting the solenoid, but I am not sure how it attaches. The parts diagrams show a screw with what appears to be a washer going thru/holding down the rubber grommet on each end of the solenoid, but the lugs on the engine are not threaded to receive a screw. In fact they are painted and smooth. Since the I know that a solenoid came off this engine, how the heck was it attached? Is there some kind of insert for these lugs? Trying to figre out what I need besides the solenoid. See red arrows in picture below:



2.) Does anyone have a wiring diagram for this starter solenoid? From reading various online posts, this is what I am assuming. The positive battery cable hooks to the left hand large post. The wire from the right large solenoid post goes to the post on the bottom of the starter. The red wire coming from the starter button goes to the left small post. And the right small post goes to ground. What size should the wire be going to the starter? How about the ground?

Thanks for any and all help.

 

[Daviet]

Re: Johnson 15 hp starter solenoid

Welcome to the forum.
1.) If I remember correctly, unless you have a remote start switch, there is no solenoid. It uses a real heavy duty push button switch to activate the starter. I am sure someone will come along and help out on this.
2.) The only place I know of for a schematic is the factory manual, maybe someone has another site for the wiring diagram you need.
The wiring you describe is typical for a starter solenoid if your engine used one.

 

[jrs_diesel]

Re: Johnson 15 hp starter solenoid

The older electric start models used a heavy duty button to apply power directly to the starter.

The newer ones (1993 and newer) use a small button located in the side of the tiller mounted shift handle, to activate a solenoid which applies power to the starter. The small button is not rated to handle the amount of current for the starter by itself, the switch can easily be burnt out if it was mistakenly re-wired to do that.

Here is some more info on the newer starting system for the 9.9/15 HP engines:

Maintaining Johnson 9.9 93 & newer

 

[mwt022]

Re: Johnson 15 hp starter solenoid

Thanks for the input. My son's boat has the starter button located just behind the shift lever. Everything that I could find online seemed to indicate that this motor should have a starter solenoid. I had planned to get OMC part #584580 or the equivalent. Just trying to fiugure out what I need besides that (mounting hardware, etc.) and the appropriate wiring.

 

[jrs_diesel]

Re: Johnson 15 hp starter solenoid

Should be pretty straight forward. Two small wires from the start button to the small terminals on the solenoid. Big red wire from the battery to one of the big terminals on the solenoid, and another big red wire from the other big terminal to the starter. Ground wires go to the engine block.

The solenoid looks like it bolts to the engine block on the left hand side between the starter motor and the fuel pump.

Link to picture of the solenoid location:
http://www.leeroysramblings.com/OB images/93 OMC fuel pump.JPG