I have solenoid concerns...please help...Paul?

[Saskatoon2005]

I have a picture that says a million words. Last year my motor/solenoid was draining my battery and I was told it was shot (solenoid that is). So I purchased a new one that I was told was for my motor (it was from Sierra Parts) it is number 18-5807 and it replaces Johnson/Evinrude/OMC Cobra 378444.<br /> Sorry for anyone who doesn't know, I have a Johnson model number RDS-23. It is a 40 H.p. Johnson. Anyways, could someone tell me how to upload pics so I can show you the difference on the two solenoids and how do I hook up the new one? Thanks.

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: I have solenoid concerns...please help...Paul?

Host your picture at a website such as tinypic.com (no registration needed but you cannot delete your pictures) or xs.to. They will provide you with a link to your picture. Post the link here by hitting "Full Reply Form", click the IMAGE button, and then paste the link into it. For example:<br /><br />

tinypic.com spits out the following link:<br /> http://tinypic.com/6on6ko.jpg<br />Using the IMAGE button surrounds it with codes like this:<br />[IMG]http://tinypic.com/6on6ko.jpg[/IMG]

Displayed picture is:<br />

<br /><br />Switching out the solenoid ought to be dead simple. The two bit lugs are interchangeable and so are the two little ones. So just so long as the wires that come off the little lugs go on to (whichever) little lugs and same for the big ones, everything should be fine.<br />Unless someone has a weird solenoid in there.

 

[Saskatoon2005]

Re: I have solenoid concerns...please help...Paul?

Okay, how about this...<br /><br />

 

[Saskatoon2005]

Re: I have solenoid concerns...please help...Paul?

Can you see the difference? The solenoid on the left came off of my rds-23. <br /><br /> The solenoid on the right is the new one I ordered from Sierra Parts. Is there a chance that the solenoid on the left was not the right one? Just curious. How do I hook up the new one?

 

[Saskatoon2005]

Re: I have solenoid concerns...please help...Paul?

Paul, or anyone, can you help me out. The old solenoid only has one small terminal and the new one has two small terminals. Was the original one, not the right one used?

 

[Xcusme]

Re: I have solenoid concerns...please help...Paul?

The solenoid with only one small terminal is internally coil grounded. This single terminal gets 12VDC from the ignition key when turned to the start position.<br /><br />The second solenoid has 2 small terminals. The right hand smaller terminal can be grounded and the solenoid used the same as the old one. Depending on the wiring layout of the motor, the right hand terminal can go to a Neutral Saftey Switch. This is a safety issue. The motor will have to be in Neutral before the solenoid will close and start the motor.

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: I have solenoid concerns...please help...Paul?

Xcusme has it. Likely the one on the left is an auto solenoid. Connected properly, one of the small lugs connects to the (S)tart terminal on the keyswitch, and the other terminal ultimately connects to the base of the vaccum cutout switch inside the engine, which is grounded with the safety switch on the starboard side of the engine, between the armature plate and the block. Nothing connects to the solenoid housing like on the left solenoid.

 

[Saskatoon2005]

Re: I have solenoid concerns...please help...Paul?

So do I ground the right hand terminal so that it should work? Well it doesn't. Any way to check the ignition switch? I wonder if I reinstall the old solenoid if I can get the starter to work. When I first bought the boat the positive and negative leads were switched. I switched them back and low and behold I got it to run. Except the drain was a real drawback.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: I have solenoid concerns...please help...Paul?

The drain you are experiencing is not due to a bad solenoid but more likely a bad rectifier/regulator. Reversing the polarily popped one or more diodes allowing a backflow of current. Back to the solenoid. With everything connected, have someone turn the key to start, engine in neutral, and measure voltage at the small terminal on the solenoid. No voltage you have a bad switch or wiring between it and the solenoid. If there is 12V there the solenoid has no ground.

 

[Saskatoon2005]

Re: I have solenoid concerns...please help...Paul?

My outboard does not have any rectifier/ regulator. It is not equipped with a charging system. So that should simplfy things, i thought. <br /><br /> I got a great drawing from Paul M, so I am going to try an "rewire" the outboard either tonight or early tomorrow. Thanks for your input guys and I'll let you know if I fixed the Old Bird.