1970 85 hp Evinrude Starflite -- getting out of gear

[Dabbler_E]

Just acquired a boat with a non-running Starflite (85093) (factory service manual is ordered). PO bought it a few years ago, and indicates that it would start back then but would quit after a few seconds, and never has done anything with it since then. We tried to get it to turn over in the driveway, but it cranked very slowly even with a jump.

It appears to be an electric shift, which is new to me (my other motor is a 79 Johnson 70). Upon getting it back, it seems to be stuck in gear (which would certainly explain the sluggishness!) PO had disengaged cables, and I sat there scratching my head for 15 minutes trying to find the shift mechanism.

How can I manually get it out of gear so I can check out the state of the motor?

Thanks!

 

[rayodunne]

Re: 1970 85 hp Evinrude Starflite -- getting out of gear

Did the motor come with the correct controls? If so the motor is in forward gear by default and will shift to neutral as it starts. The shift mechanism is in the lower unit and consists of 2 solenoids which control the flow of oil to perform shift. You really need to wait for the manual and check all wiring as per diagram in the back of the manual. Do a search on here for electric shift and you will get a lot of info which will help you but will not be motor specific.

Oh and the slow cranking is more than likely bad/corroded connections. Clean all connections and make sure battery is fully charged as bad battery can kill your amplifier.

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: 1970 85 hp Evinrude Starflite -- getting out of gear

dabbler, i think we should get in touch. I have the exact same motor that i picked up a few months ago, same thing... cranks VERY SLOWLY...


i think we should team up here and get our motors working!

 

[Dabbler_E]

Re: 1970 85 hp Evinrude Starflite -- getting out of gear

Rayodunne -- thanks. I probably will wait for the manual, and keep reading up on the electric shift in the meantime.

Andy in NY -- sounds good. Does your prop turn when it's cranking?

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: 1970 85 hp Evinrude Starflite -- getting out of gear

Rayodunne -- thanks. I probably will wait for the manual, and keep reading up on the electric shift in the meantime.

Andy in NY -- sounds good. Does your prop turn when it's cranking?

i dont remember... i was just talking to bob_vt and he asked me the same thing.
but the motor that came on the boat when i first got it was elec shift, and when started the prop spun right away. turns out it was a micros witch in the controls.

im going to be investigating mine further probably this weekend...

 

[Dabbler_E]

Re: 1970 85 hp Evinrude Starflite -- getting out of gear

Update: I've learned a lot about electric shifting, and have learned that the remote control that came with the boat is NOT the right one for the motor. That would explain why I spent an hour trying to figure out where the second cable was supposed to attach -- it aint. I get the feeling that a PO put the original motor on another hull and stuck this one on to get rid of it (shocking, I know).

So, I hooked 12V onto the green (neutral) wire, let the cylinders soak in WD40 for a couple days, hooked it up with heavy jumpers to my truck battery with truck running for extra juice and presto! cranked like a champ and I could hear the solenoid in the lower unit doing its thing. Prop spins on initial crank (b/c forward gear is default) but then goes limp in a second or two.

Too bad there's no spark and compression is 100, 95, 125, 120.

Looks like I'll be selling it for parts.