electramatic shifter wiring

[corzy]

hey guys, just want to make sure i wire up my shifter right before i hook up my battery....ive got a 1963 40 hp johnson electramatic with electric start but no generator

what im sure of is that for the shifter green and blue are the forward/reverse lines that go to the gear box, but which post on the ignition do i put the hot line to? and just curious how its grounded since theres no ground wire?

also i know i wire the start to the starter solenoid, but what do i wire the ground of the solenoid to? the safety switch? what does that look like? i think i know, but mine only has 1 lead post on it, could the other be busted, or am i way off?

thanks guys, just dont want to fry any wiring

oh and i picked up 12 guage stranded wire, hope thats heavy enough?

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: electramatic shifter wiring

The +12V hot wire goes to the "B" (battery) terminal on the ignition switch.
No ground is needed on the ignition switch. It just switches the +12V to where it's needed. The ground is the engine block that has the negative battery terminal wired to it.
The safety switch normally has only 1 terminal. It is gets a ground connection from its mounting screw. It is a little mechanical switch mounted on the exhaust cover.
12 gauge stranded wire is fine. Except for the main battery and starter cables, of course.

 

[corzy]

Re: electramatic shifter wiring

ok so either my engine doesn't have a safety switch, or i just cant find it...lil help? i dont see anything with wires coming off of it thats mounted to the exhaust cover....what does the safety switch do, other than finish the circuit thru ground? obviously i could just ground the starter solenoid straight to the block, but what does the switch do?

 

[corzy]

Re: electramatic shifter wiring

i cant find the part or part number either....

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: electramatic shifter wiring

ok so either my engine doesn't have a safety switch, or i just cant find it...lil help? i dont see anything with wires coming off of it thats mounted to the exhaust cover....what does the safety switch do, other than finish the circuit thru ground? obviously i could just ground the starter solenoid straight to the block, but what does the switch do?

Voltage to Blue wire = Forward..... voltage to Green wire = Reverse.

Safety Switch: Older models = prevents voltage to starter solenoid when throttle is set beyond a certain point..... Newer models = prevents voltage to starter solenoid when in gear. Some of the older models also have the in gear safety setup.

On your engine, the safety switch is no doubt at the end of the black ground wire leading from the starter solenoid.

 

[corzy]

Re: electramatic shifter wiring

ok did some wiring last night, and im pretty sure i figured out what the safety switch is by using the wiring diagram and going backwards....looks like the safety switch is just under the cover for the pull starter/Flywheel, it goes to the side of the cut-out switch, which then goes to the starter solenoid....the middle of the cut out switch goes up to the magneto right....then theres another wire coming from the magneto...which ignition lead does that magneto wire go to? i also found a wire coming out of the bottom cylinder just next to the spark plug, is this a temp sensor? and what does it usually go to, like a light or buzzer?

my next question is are there any parts for the electra shifter? i need the small starting lever, mine has the handle busted off...not sure if ill be able to fab one up or not....marineengines.com doesn't have any, i know the switch is real hard to come by, but i only need the handle....
thanks for the help

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: electramatic shifter wiring

ok did some wiring last night, and im pretty sure i figured out what the safety switch is by using the wiring diagram and going backwards....looks like the safety switch is just under the cover for the pull starter/Flywheel, it goes to the side of the cut-out switch, which then goes to the starter solenoid....the middle of the cut out switch goes up to the magneto right....then theres another wire coming from the magneto...which ignition lead does that magneto wire go to? i also found a wire coming out of the bottom cylinder just next to the spark plug, is this a temp sensor? and what does it usually go to, like a light or buzzer? my next question is are there any parts for the electra shifter? i need the small starting lever, mine has the handle busted off...not sure if ill be able to fab one up or not....marineengines.com doesn't have any, i know the switch is real hard to come by, but i only need the handle....thanks for the help

Black wire leading to magneto = connected to one set of points, shorts out one coil via the vaccum switch if a runaway engine is encountered.

Tan wire leading from cylinder head is connected to overheat sensor... other end on that model is usually connected to a small RED 12v bulb.

The small lever... If you're speaking of the small RED warm up lever, the original part number is 308524 but has been superseded up to 310700. Unless upgraded recently, it appears to still be available thru any dealership.. about $15.00 or so.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: electramatic shifter wiring

On your engine, the safety switch is no doubt at the end of the black ground wire leading from the starter solenoid.

Unless someone removed it in the last 49 years. Frequently they are gone because someone installed an auto solenoid and burned out the safety switch as a result.

 

[corzy]

Re: electramatic shifter wiring

thanks whaler, i think i found mine...last place you always look ya know!! hahaha
and thats great joe, ill call tomorrow and see if they can get me one, 15 is better than me trying to fab one for a few days at work!!