west bend 35 hp engine issues

[slredstorm62]

my 35 hp westbend (unknown year and dont know how to find out) has a couple issues with it. first of all when i hook the magneto wires up to the ignition switch and turn the switch on the wires start to burn up underneath the flywheel, any ideas?? number 2 i dont know what impeller to order because i dont know the year. number 3 i would like some help if possible on wiring the motor up. i have the magneto wires going to the ign. switch then a ground and a batt and last is the solenoid wire but the starter wont crank over. it is a bran new solenoid. one post has bat wire one had wire to starter but i dont know how to wire up the 2 small posts. any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks

 

[COLDSHOTAXEMAN]

Re: west bend 35 hp engine issues

If you have the box or part number for the solenoid, Check with the parts store where you bought it. Ask them to get out the "Buyers Guide" catalog. Have them look up the solenoid in the buyers guide.The electrical schematic for the solenoid should be drawn there with a picture of the part. As well as many of it's common applications. I.E. Ford 77 to 91 truck, ect. Hopefully the counter people at the parts store know what a buyers guide is. Unfortunately, many of the counter people at the big chain stores don't know about that kind of thing.

But the two terminals usually work like this. One post is power from your ign. switch during cranking. The other is ground. It usually does not matter which post is used for which purpose. However Sometimes in the solenoid there may be a diode which only lets current flow one way. If that is the case then you may have to hook it up one way, test it, and if it does not work, hook it up the other way. That is where the Buyers guide I mentioned above comes in handy. The diode will be drawn in the schematic. And as you know, the big posts are battery power in, the other big post is power to the starter.
Hope this is helpfull to you.

 

[steelespike]

Re: west bend 35 hp engine issues

some West bend 35s are a magneto ignition (self generating)there is no battery hookup.Have you looked for a model number begins with 35.Some electric start 35s have battery ignition.

 

[slredstorm62]

Re: west bend 35 hp engine issues

i tried to wire it up that way and nothing happened. i switched it and still nothing. and as for the magneto thing it does have one and the old ignition switch on it has a hookup for battery that was wired it. it is just agrivating trying to get it to work without burning something up or messing it up. where can i find the model number? i tried to look for a tag and found nothing

 

[steelespike]

Re: west bend 35 hp engine issues

If you smoked the wires you may not get any ignition.
You should get yourself a service manual.Sometimes you can find aftermarket manuals at the library. I get mine on ebay.At least with a manual you should be able to identify your ignition system.
Look all over for a tag Somewhere on the mounting bracket is a vavorite spot. some motors its inside on the belly pan.On an old motor I would think you will find rivet holes where a tag may have been mounted.
If you pull the flywheel you should be able to tell if it is a mag ignition.
You most likely need to pull it and check it out under there anyway.

 

[F_R]

Re: west bend 35 hp engine issues

If you smoked the wires you may not get any ignition.
You should get yourself a service manual.Sometimes you can find aftermarket manuals at the library. I get mine on ebay.At least with a manual you should be able to identify your ignition system.
Look all over for a tag Somewhere on the mounting bracket is a vavorite spot. some motors its inside on the belly pan.On an old motor I would think you will find rivet holes where a tag may have been mounted.
If you pull the flywheel you should be able to tell if it is a mag ignition.
You most likely need to pull it and check it out under there anyway.

If you connect 12 volts to a magneto, you will smoke the wires and burn up a coil or points.

 

[slredstorm62]

Re: west bend 35 hp engine issues

why would 12 volts melt it if it requires a 12 volt battery?? how do i check to see if its still good? i dont want to replace anything if i dont have to. the engine has not been ran in 4 years or more and was ran once. it sat for many years before that

 

[F_R]

Re: west bend 35 hp engine issues

some West bend 35s are a magneto ignition (self generating)there is no battery hookup.Have you looked for a model number begins with 35.Some electric start 35s have battery ignition.

As steelspike said, the battery does not connect to the magneto. The battery is only used to run the electric starter. The key switch connects the two wires going to the breaker points together to stop the motor. They might be a black and a white wire, but I don't know for sure.

Connecting 12V to a magneto coil can actually melt it or even cause it to explode in some cases.

If you can ever find the model number, I might have a wiring diagram. But I'm in the dark without knowing what we are working on here.

 

[slredstorm62]

Re: west bend 35 hp engine issues

then how do i wire up the ignition switch?? it has a l m g b s on it and i have b-batt g-ground s-solenoid so what are the l and m? the l has 12v as soon as the key is turned on and the m has nothing at any time. am i supposed to hook it up to the m on the switch? (got the switch from napa. it is a magneto key switch for lawn mower and boats) how do i test to make sure i didnt mess anything up. i think the model number is long gone so idk what to do

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: west bend 35 hp engine issues

Post a photo. Without that or model/serial number, we can only guess at what to tell you.

 

[F_R]

Re: west bend 35 hp engine issues

Post a photo. Without that or model/serial number, we can only guess at what to tell you.

You have a PM. I sent a best guess wiring diagram. See if it is even close to what you have. If not, we need pictures. Lots of pictures. Both sides of the powerhead and under the flywheel.

 

[steelespike]

Re: west bend 35 hp engine issues

Don't forget "SOME" electric start West Bends have battery ignition.
They will have a flywheel mounted alternator generator,Each cylinder will have a comeplete seperate ignition system w breaker points condenser and coil.points and condenser are mounted under the flywheel where the magneto usually appears.
You should really try to find a service manual.Libraries sometimes have
aftermarket manuals.
If you haven't serviced under the flywheel before or after your smokey adventures it isn't likely to run.

 

[F_R]

Re: west bend 35 hp engine issues

Don't forget "SOME" electric start West Bends have battery ignition.
They will have a flywheel mounted alternator generator,Each cylinder will have a comeplete seperate ignition system w breaker points condenser and coil.points and condenser are mounted under the flywheel where the magneto usually appears.
You should really try to find a service manual.Libraries sometimes have
aftermarket manuals.
If you haven't serviced under the flywheel before or after your smokey adventures it isn't likely to run.

Some have Magnetron electronic ignition too.

 

[slredstorm62]

Re: west bend 35 hp engine issues

ok i got it all wired up and it turns over now. i am trying to find my coil testr to make sure it still has spark. i also ordered the impeller i hope it is the right one. can i just buy a new sheer pin at the parts store or do i have to special order it. also what lower unit grease should i use?? thanks

 

[steelespike]

Re: west bend 35 hp engine issues

Regular outboard gear lube.The motor uses a 1/4" X 1 15/64th stainless
shear pin.

 

[slredstorm62]

Re: west bend 35 hp engine issues

so that is the size of the pin that holds the impeller on the shaft?? the hole looks like its a bout 1/8 or smaller. can i get that at advance auto or napa store??

 

[steelespike]

Re: west bend 35 hp engine issues

Sorry,can't help on impeller pin size.I would think a stainless or brass pin
in the right size would work.If it was mine I would give it a try.
Early chryslers being related you may be able to get a pin that way.
Perhaps from the Chrysler Crew.

 

[slredstorm62]

Re: west bend 35 hp engine issues

so i got my boat all wired up the way it is supposed to be and now when i turn it over it has no spark to either plug wire. the battery now wont turn over because i have been playing around with it. do you think maybe its not cranking fast enough to produce spark? i had the problem with it smoking when i hooked up the 12v to it and i also removed the flywheel. any ideas??

 

[steelespike]

Re: west bend 35 hp engine issues

If the Starter is really straining and drawing lots of power it might reduce the spark.But more likely something in the ignition has failed.
What assemblies did you find under the flywheel?
Does the starter get hot quickly? Are all connectionsa clean and tight.
Especially the grounds.Pull the plugs and crank by hand should be plenty of spark.Check the ends of the cables for heat after running the starter.