As I was working in my garage the other day on a fluid bed for powder painting jigs, I noticed my "spare motor rack" and got to thinking...?????..
I have an old Evinrude 9.9 that I'll probably never use and should sell real cheap. I also have a 2 stroke 25HP Johnson which started out life as a jet motor. Later converted to a standard propped lower unit. This motor as sold was a recoil rope manual start and was not even offered with a electric start option. Of course this got me to checking parts numbers to see if it could be retrofitted with electric, while also keeping the rope recoil functional and in place.
After scrolling thru several pages of parts lists, it did seem indeed that such a conversion was physically possible. However, looking at pricing on the needed parts, the conversion with new parts would be astronomical. Doing some more digging into used parts, I found the contact info for a place in Northern Minnesota whom I have previously done business with. After a few e-mails we came to an agreement on the parts needed and a price for the conversion kit. Less than 24 hours later the kit was at my door.
Got the old fly wheel removed, (no gear teeth on the old one). Replaced it with the flywheel in my "kit". Removed another bracket and replaced it with a bracket designed to hold a starter motor. Installed a solenoid, drilled a hole for the starter button, ran some wires and viola!, I now have electric start on this motor. Now if, heaven forbid, I should smack something with my current motor, I can have this one on the boat and ready to go in short order.
One thing is for certain, things got a whole lot tighter under the cowling after adding that electric start. Well worth it to just push a button and spin the engine to life. [cool] Seeing as how this is a spare motor, I'll actually be happy if I never need it.
View attachment johnson starter.jpg
I have an old Evinrude 9.9 that I'll probably never use and should sell real cheap. I also have a 2 stroke 25HP Johnson which started out life as a jet motor. Later converted to a standard propped lower unit. This motor as sold was a recoil rope manual start and was not even offered with a electric start option. Of course this got me to checking parts numbers to see if it could be retrofitted with electric, while also keeping the rope recoil functional and in place.
After scrolling thru several pages of parts lists, it did seem indeed that such a conversion was physically possible. However, looking at pricing on the needed parts, the conversion with new parts would be astronomical. Doing some more digging into used parts, I found the contact info for a place in Northern Minnesota whom I have previously done business with. After a few e-mails we came to an agreement on the parts needed and a price for the conversion kit. Less than 24 hours later the kit was at my door.
Got the old fly wheel removed, (no gear teeth on the old one). Replaced it with the flywheel in my "kit". Removed another bracket and replaced it with a bracket designed to hold a starter motor. Installed a solenoid, drilled a hole for the starter button, ran some wires and viola!, I now have electric start on this motor. Now if, heaven forbid, I should smack something with my current motor, I can have this one on the boat and ready to go in short order.
One thing is for certain, things got a whole lot tighter under the cowling after adding that electric start. Well worth it to just push a button and spin the engine to life. [cool] Seeing as how this is a spare motor, I'll actually be happy if I never need it.
View attachment johnson starter.jpg