Wiring help

[charles.manifold]

Hello all,
I have a 77 Starcraft with a Mercruiser 165 inline 6 I got on a trade. The previous owner said he had starter issues and had just thrown a new one in from the local parts store.
After messing around with it and replacing the points with an electronic ignition I started it up and the starter engaged and stayed engaged until the key was turned back to off.
Is this because it's a new starter and solenoid? I was looking at some wiring diagrams scratching my head and need help.
So my question is, do I need to start looking for a different kind of starter?
Or can I / should I try to rewire for the new one, and if so please point me in the direction of where I can find instructions to do so.

Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for your help!!!

 

[Bt Doctur]

The inline 6 has the solenoid mounted on the starter and has a slave solenoid . Remove the yellow/red wire at the starter solenoid , jump from the battery post to the post that had the wire on it. Report results
Typically, from the yellow/red at the key switch it goes to the slave solenoid, the slave solenoid trips the starters solenoid, the starters solenoid completes the main battery connection to operate the starter.
The ign switch, the slave, the main solenoid all can cause the starter to remain engaged

 

[charles.manifold]

Here's what I've got at the starter solenoid.
3 red wires (one of which I believe to be coming from the slave start solenoid).
1 yellow wire (should also be from the slave start solenoid).
1 tan wire that should be coming from the ignition coil.
There are only 2 available lugs on the starter solenoid.

Are you saying to remove both the yellow and red wires at the starter solenoid?
Then jump from the positive lug of the battery to which post? Since they both have had wires removed.
Sorry for the extra questions, I've got tools in hand.

Thanks Bt Doctur!!!

 

[muc]

You have the wrong starter. The yellow and tan wires need to go to 2 different small studs. Or just leave the tan wire disconnected. You might not need it with the electronic ignition.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Do you have a ammeter or voltmeter

 

[Bt Doctur]

 

[charles.manifold]

I do, and that's the diagram I was looking at.
I'll try starting it with the tan wire disconnected like muc suggested.
I was wondering if the starter was going to end up being wrong being from autozone lol

The 3rd reddish/orange wire that connects to the positive lug looks like it hooks up to the left (looking aft) of the slave solenoid. I think that might be for power trim? I don't see that wire mentioned in the diagram

 

[Bt Doctur]

only if its not ignition protected

 

[charles.manifold]

It sounds like I need to just replace the starter with the correct one then. I was hoping there might have been an easy way to rewire the system to accept this starter. But I don't want to mess anything up, this old girls been treated poorly already.

 

[charles.manifold]

One last thing. When I got it he had the yellow and the tan wires on the same small post on the starter solenoid. Would that cause the starter to remain engaged after the boat started?
Since that was the initial problem I guess I need to find out the answer for that first.

 

[Bt Doctur]

the starter solenoid will have 3 posts, 1 large one, battery cable, main system power, possablty the alt feed to battery, 1 small post closest to the engine, this gets the yellow/red from the slave solenoid, 1 small lug away from the motor , it gets the tan wire

 

[Scott Danforth]

The previous owner said he had starter issues and had just thrown a new one in from the local parts store.

let hope he use a marine starter. most local parts stores do not carry marine starters. guarantee that Advance Auto does not carry marine starters. Some NAPA's do