Thread subject: Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos :: Yamaha 70hp wiring issues

Posted by bigmike0601 on 04/19/09 - 1:28 PM
#1

ok, my questions concern the wires from battery to motor. None there now. Not that familiar with boat motors. It should be similar to a car right...

1. My diagram shows the negative battery terminal to starter motor, what guage wire do I use? I need to get one.

2. Next shows positive terminal to stater relay. I think I found this connection (red quick connect), but the guage wire looks quite small to go to battery...What guage wire for this to battery?

It appers they are different guage wires to battery, not like a car.

Mike

Posted by Joe Kriz on 04/19/09 - 1:32 PM
#2

Mike,

They should both be the same size wires.
I think you are looking at the wrong wire on the starter.

The gauge of wire depends on how long the run is.

NOTE:
On most engines the ground wire goes to a bolt on the engine block.
The positive wire goes to the starter.

DISCLAIMER:
This may not be the case with all engines

Edited by Joe Kriz on 04/19/09 - 2:35 PM

Posted by WhalerDan on 04/19/09 - 1:46 PM
#3

On my 70 Yamaha I have #4 wire to battery, & battery is in console. The #4 will be easy enough to make bends.

Posted by bigmike0601 on 04/19/09 - 2:34 PM
#4

Both negative and positive wires are #4 guage? I see negative to stater motor to be that size, but I don't see another connection that big for the positive connection.

Posted by Joe Kriz on 04/19/09 - 2:36 PM
#5

Yes.

See my post above as I edited it.

Negative wire usually goes to a bolt on the engine block.

The positive wire goes to the starter.


Posted by bigmike0601 on 04/19/09 - 2:50 PM
#6

Joe,

That's what I thought too. However, the diagram shows - and (b) for black from battery to Stater motor and red + to stater relay, so this may be the exception in your disclamer. I think I need to find the stater relay connection...it could be a bolt too that I havent found yet. Either the wiring diagram is helping me or screwing me up cause I had red to stater first.

Posted by Joe Kriz on 04/19/09 - 3:01 PM
#7

Mike,

I just pulled the cover off of my Evinrude 150 to make sure I was not hallucinating.

1. My negative (ground) wire is connected to a bolt on the engine which also happens to hold the bracket for the starter. It is connected to the engine block however.

2. The positive wire from the battery is connected to the top of the solenoid. A slightly smaller wire comes from the bottom of the solenoid to the starter.

So, the positive cable from the battery goes to one side of the starter solenoid and the negative cable from the battery goes to the engine block somewhere.

Both cables are the same size which looks basically the same as auto battery cables.

Edited by Joe Kriz on 04/19/09 - 3:02 PM

Posted by Derwd24 on 04/19/09 - 3:02 PM
#8

Usually on the other large post of the starter solenoid, there's a short red wire that runs over to the winding post (not the chasis ground) on the starter and is usually the same ga as the cable from the battery. Does your set up have this?

Posted by bigmike0601 on 04/19/09 - 3:23 PM
#9

Yes, there is a short large wire running down from starter connected to something. Since I have battery wires no I don't know if its same size or not, but it much bigger than all the other wires in there.

Posted by Joe Kriz on 04/19/09 - 3:37 PM
#10

Yes, that something is the starter solenoid.

The cable from the battery should run to another post on that solenoid. The nut for this should be fairly large.

Posted by Derwd24 on 04/19/09 - 4:42 PM
#11

Right, so the positive (red) cable you need should be at least as big (thick) as the short one you can see, and probably bigger depending on distance, size, etc.

So as Joe says, you need a new red cable from the positive battery terminal up to the other large (free) lug on the starter solenoid, and your new black cable should run from the negative post of the battery up to a ground bolt or stud on the engine block, usually located somewhere around the starter mount.