where does this ground wire belong?? OMC 165 GM L6

[71Fiberform]

I recently replaced my exhaust and head gasket and in my haste I didnt pay attention to where this ground wire belongs.. the only thing in the area that looks like a wire could be connected is the relays but I assume they are ground on the mount.. This wire runs around the back of the engine and its connected to a bolt on the motor mount near the starter. The ground connector also has 5+ other wires on it. Cant seem to determine from the wiring diagram where this should be. Any thoughts are much appreciated.

 

[71Fiberform]

Forgot to mention I also replaced tilt motor, but I think its grounded by the bolts, and I dont remember taking any wires off like this.

 

[71Fiberform]

bumping this up after the weekend! what is everyone out on there boats or what?! :sorrow:

 

[Silvertip]

It is a number of ground wires crimped into a large, single ring terminal. It can be bolted to the engine block using any of the larger bolts within reach of the cable. Do not use a smaller bolt such as one that secure the valve cover. Try one that secures another major component directly to the engine block such as a water pump bolt or bell housing bolt.

 

[71Fiberform]

Thanks, but this wire is already grounded to the motor mount. Are you saying it runs from a ground to a ground?

 

[southkogs]

Sorry bud ... I keep meaning to look at mine and see where it goes, but I keep forgetting. Haven't been under the hood all week. For some reason I think mine runs down below the engine and meets up with the "snake" that goes up front ... but I'm totally guessing. I'll try to look tonight ... (rinse and repeat )

 

[71Fiberform]

Hey thanks alot! Its a very specific wire.. like a bundle of 3-4 wires.. just hard to tell where it came from.

 

[southkogs]

Garrrrrrrphhh!! I can't see mine without taking out a seat and the dog house!

But now I'm wondering what i'm seeing in your photo, and trying to remember what I did on mine (no expert here by any stretch of the imagination, BTW). Do you have select trim on your boat? And is this the last solenoid on the port side toward the back?

 

[71Fiberform]

I do have the selectrim, but there is no motor in it now, need to replace it. This shot is from the port side, although its attached on the starboard side, near the starter, its a cluster of ground wires. The solenoids are for the tilt and bilge I think. Thanks for your help.

 

[southkogs]

Okay ... I'm a little confused (not hard to pull off ): Does this solenoid reside on the starter/starboard side of the engine? That might be your starter assist solenoid.

On the port side of the engine, the solenoids should mount in a nice row on the side of the engine: from front to back they are the Trim In, Trim Out, Tilt Up, and Tilt down. Bilge pump shouldn't need/have a solenoid.

 

[71Fiberform]

The solenoids in the pic are on the port side. There are only 2 though. Not sure why the bilge was wired into it.. there are alot of loose wires there.. seems prev. Owner maybe ripped the trim motor and solenoids out.. not sure why.. This is why im confused becsuse there is nothing in this area other than solenoids ..

 

[southkogs]

Okay - port side: 4 Solenoids is the right number if you have select trim. What year is this from?

Here are a few photos if they are of any help:


Select Trim on mine is that crazy screw lookin' apparatus on the front engine mount.



If you can see the 4 solenoids hangin' on a bracket in the lower right of the photo, that's how they should be organized. Front to back as above 2 trim, 2 tilt.

Distributor and coil on the left side of this shot (starboard of engine).



This is a tear down photo, but the solenoids are on the port side right under the manifold (can't see them in the photo):

 

[71Fiberform]

Its funny, my engine looks similar. Selectrim and all, but no solenoids.. its like someone took it out and just cut the wires. I guess I will need two relays along with the trim motor. The boat says 1971 but title says 1972..

 

[southkogs]

These things get "Frankensteined" all the time. Doesn't help the next owner in any way, but it keeps the PO on the water a little while longer. 71 & 72 are gonna' be pretty much the same, and at a model year change who knows what happened.

See if this helps you any:



You can run without the trim (mine still doesn't work right), but you'll want to try to manually set the jackscrew somewhere in the middle to make it function reasonably well.

 

[71Fiberform]

Thanks! Ive got this wiring diagram.. and always wondered where the other solenoids were.. Still no clue as to where the ground wire goes though!

 

[southkogs]

Well if it's truly the tilt solenoid, it's probably supposed to run up to the first trim solenoid. At least that's my guess right now.