Making an Electric start harness for 1959 Johnson 18HP Seahorse.

[Big Johnson31]

Well its been a while since I was last on the board. But after a rollercoaster winter Im back to getting where I want to be.. I have just recently started messing with a johnson seahorse motor I aquried for $40 last fall. I have started it and boy did she purrrrrrrr. I have a 9.5 Johnson seahorse also and it has been babied like no other. The 18HP on the other hand had not been started and ran in over 13yrs. I checked everything to a T and nothing seemed to be bad at all. There wasnt even any dry rott on lines or seals of anykind. Started her up and she ran like new.. I was amazed!

Now the question is. Pull starting her is a pain. I have yet to do it. But she does have electric start. Problem is I dont have the Wiring harness nor can I find one. I have been told some guys on here have fabricated their own and would like any help or insite on how to make one for myself. Also I will be changing motors over aften from the 9.5Hp to the 18HP

Any and all help will be greatly appreciated

 

[jdsgrog]

Re: 1959 Johnson 18HP Seahorse.

Re: 1959 Johnson 18HP Seahorse.

I have a '59 18hp also. Great motor. I don't have the electric start, but pull starting actually is not difficult. It's easy enough to pull cold starting, but much easier once the motor is warmed up.

For the electric start, if you don't have the wiring harness, you can easily rewire it. Not sure if you are using a key switch. On my Johnson 33hp, I simply made it into a "push button start" and simplified things when I made it into a tiller steer from a remote steer. But if you have a repair manual (which you should get), it will give you the wiring diagrams.