Need some help on a 1957 Evinrude 35hp Lark_Junction Box

Bigkat650

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Feb 3, 2010
Messages
127
Hi all.

So I purchased this great classic motor this last Friday as a parts motor for my 1958 Johnson SeaHorse--as all the guy was asking for was $75. I picked up the motor, pressurized gas tank, all the wires, throttle cables, and a teleflex steering system... I thought it was such an amazing deal, and the motor was in such good shape, I gave the guy $100 instead of the $75 he asked for. I got it home, and its in pretty darn nice shape, and has electric start, which my Johnson does not have.

001tin.jpg

So today I was tinkering with it. Got it fired up on about the 5th pull of the string, he said it hadn't ran in years (it started so easy) without even touching the carb.

So I moved on to the electrical, where I got a little stumped. I took it from his boat with all the wires still hooked up--however, he said he never used the electric start, and just always hand pulled started it. After a bit of 'follow the wire', I determined it had two momentary on switches--1 for the choke; and 1 for the starter.

When I hooked it all up, the choke switched worked fine, however I expected it to--its just a 12v switch. I did not have the same luck on the starter however. I am not sure if it is wired correctly at the junction box, or if the junction box is shot and needs to be replaced.


I took a couple pictures looking down at the switch and drew a wiring diagram to help show how everything is ran. The diagram is drew from looking down at it just like in the picture taken of it. The wire colors in the diagram are the same as they are in the photo to help keep it clear as to how it is wired.

Evinrude Wire Diagram problem.jpg002_resized.jpg003_resized.jpg

Now, I found http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=454490 about how to wire these things up. If I compare my wiring to wiring in the 3rd picture of the link, it looks like mine is wired backwards?? I am basically looking to find out if I have it wired backwards or if I need to buy a new Junction Box.

Also, do I need a kill switch? Or can I just use the choke to kill the motor? I saw a wire under the front of the fly wheel that appears to be cut--not sure, but thought that may be a kill switch wire?

Thanks for the help!
 

Daviet

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Re: Need some help on a 1957 Evinrude 35hp Lark_Junction Box

On the starter solenoid you have a cable from the battery to one of the large posts on solenoid.
You have a cable from the other large post to the starter.
You have a wire from the switch to one of the little posts on the solenoid.
There is no wire on the other little post on the solenoid, use a jumper wire and ground the little post with no wire on it. If the starter now works, you need to wire the little post through the safty switch for proper operation.
By using a push button switch to start it, you can choke it off or install another switch to shut it off.
 

lindy46

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Nov 27, 2008
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Re: Need some help on a 1957 Evinrude 35hp Lark_Junction Box

+1 - without grounding that small post back to the engine, the starter won't fire.
 

screennamie

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Nov 28, 2011
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Re: Need some help on a 1957 Evinrude 35hp Lark_Junction Box

Wouldn't you have to hook the negative terminal of the battery to the engine as well? As in a ground to complete a circuit? Otherwise theres just the positive hook up. From that diagram it doesn't look like the negative terminal is doing anything either.
 

Bigkat650

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Re: Need some help on a 1957 Evinrude 35hp Lark_Junction Box

Wouldn't you have to hook the negative terminal of the battery to the engine as well? As in a ground to complete a circuit? Otherwise theres just the positive hook up. From that diagram it doesn't look like the negative terminal is doing anything either.

You would be correct, and it does--I just forgot to add that to the diagram. The negative from the starter is the only negative that runs to the battery. I believe the negative on the choke is grounded with the starter/rest of the motor. I will fix that part of the drawing when I get home from work. Thank You.
 

kfa4303

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Sep 17, 2010
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Re: Need some help on a 1957 Evinrude 35hp Lark_Junction Box

You don't have to have a kill switch, but I sure like 'em. I use these little push-button, lanyard kill switches. They install in about 10 min., only cost about $10, have both push button kill and/or lanyard, and you can take the lanyard out and the motor is effectively dead and can't be started/stolen while you're away. Here's a pic.

lanyard kill switch.jpg
 

Bigkat650

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Re: Need some help on a 1957 Evinrude 35hp Lark_Junction Box

I hooked up the ground to the other free post, and still no luck--however the battery was pretty low. I will be trying again with a fully charged battery.

If I still have no luck, is it possible that my wires are backwards? Such as having the + from battery and the power out to the starter backwards? Not sure if it matters which side of the solenoid those are connected to, however I left it how it was when I bought it--hoping/assuming it was correct.

If I do need to replace the solenoid, do you guys know of a place to find a new budget one? Preferably one that would mount to the same size bracket.

Thanks!!
 

Daviet

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Re: Need some help on a 1957 Evinrude 35hp Lark_Junction Box

Use a test light or volt meter to check and see if the solenoid is passing voltage, it does not have a polarity, the cables can hook to either side.
Does the solenoid click when you try and start it?
I can't tell by the picture what the mounting bracket looks like but you might be able to match it at an auto parts store. It might not be a marine solenoid, but you can use it.
 

Bigkat650

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Re: Need some help on a 1957 Evinrude 35hp Lark_Junction Box

I did use a test light, and it does not appear to be passing voltage. Again, I will retest with a fully charged battery, but my assumption is I will need to replace the unit. I looked online, and looks to be in the $30 range.
 

Daviet

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Re: Need some help on a 1957 Evinrude 35hp Lark_Junction Box

You might check your local auto parts stores and see if they carry SIERRA marine parts, the stores around here can get them.
 

lindy46

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Re: Need some help on a 1957 Evinrude 35hp Lark_Junction Box

Don't use an automotive solenoid. You need a properly grounded marine solenoid.
 

HighTrim

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Jun 21, 2007
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10,486
Re: Need some help on a 1957 Evinrude 35hp Lark_Junction Box

As Lindy stated, dont use an auto solenoid.

This should help, as you dont have a generator ignnore the wiring for it as well as the regulator.

The other small lead gets connected to the cutout switch.

1957 Big Twin.jpg

EDIT: That pic is pretty small, I can upload it with photobucket if need be.
 
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