Home Forum Ask A Member 1956 Johnson Javelin wiring harness help needed please

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  • #7597
    huntleybill
    Participant

      I have a 1956 Jonson 30HP that came with the wiring harness. I am having issues with the starter not working with the push button. I have followed the attached wiring diagram but some thing is just not right here. The choke solenoid works just fine with it’s push button.
      Just to answer the basic first:

      Yes, the batt. cables are clean (they are new).
      Yes, the battery is fully charged.
      Yes, the connections are tight.
      The start relay is new.
      Yes I checked for continuity from all wires and to ground.
      Yes the push buttons tested good.
      Yes the starter is good. just had it rebuilt.

      What I don’t get is the starter push button has two terminals. One black wire goes to the mercury switch. the other terminal (white) goes the the small terminal on the start relay. My understanding is that power is supplied to the small terminal on the start relay which then actuates the start relay and power is then sent to the starter. The wiring diagram does NOT show power going to the white terminal wire and there is no ground for the junction box shown on the diagram either. BUT if I take my alligator test leads and ground the start relay to the motor itself and then take my other test lead and clamp it on the pos. batt. and then to the small terminal on the start relay, the starter kicks over just fine.

      So, what am I doing wrong here? Do I have the wrong wiring diagram? The harness does match the drawing. Seems to me I am missing a ground on the junction box and power to the start relay ?????

      Your advice is appreciated. Thank you
      Bill


      Attachments:

      #61320
      frankr
      Participant

        US MEMBER PAY BY CHECK

        You have the wrong start relay (for this diagram). The small terminal on the correct relay will be "hot". Grounding that small terminal through the push button and mercury switch activates it and the starter will run.

        #61322
        Buccaneer
        Participant

          US Member

          Bill, is it possible you have the wrong starter relay?
          It seems the one in the diagram needs to be "grounded"
          via the small terminal, start button, and mercury switch.

          It sounds like your starter relay needs voltage to the
          small post to engage the starter.

          Prepare to be boarded!

          #61323
          garry-in-michigan
          Participant

            Lifetime Member

            That 6 volt starter Solenoid in the diagram has the small side post internally connected to the positive battery post. When the starter button is pushed, the mercury switch completes the circuit to ground. The two post solenoids mere usually 12 Volt . . 😯

            #61324
            frankr
            Participant

              US MEMBER PAY BY CHECK

              Are you going to run this thing on 6V or 12V? Here are the diagrams and part numbers for both


              #61329
              garry-in-michigan
              Participant

                Lifetime Member

                Try switching the big red battery wires at the solenoid. . . 😕

                #61336
                huntleybill
                Participant

                  I plan on leaving it the original 6 volt system. When I bought the relay, I was told it was the correct one for this motor. (buyer beware).
                  Garry. I did switch the Batt. cables on the relay. No difference.

                  Thank you all for clearing that up. Off to find a relay! It’s only money!

                  #61355
                  outbdnut2
                  Participant

                    US Member

                    I believe someone sold you a 6 volt Ford starter relay (for 1954 and earlier Ford cars) which looks about the same and would work exactly as you described, requiring the mount to be grounded. Note that grounding of the mount bypasses the safety function of the Mercury switch.

                    FYI: Sierra/NAPA sells 12 volt replacements but not 6 volt, and these have two small terminals – one goes to the Mercury switch and the other gets its signal from the starter switch. If you decide to go with a 12 volt system, which I highly recommend – you will get much faster starts and you do not have to change the starter, just add a resistor in series with the choke solenoid – use same resistance as the choke solenoid coil and enough wattage rating to handle it. For a resistor in this application, Watts = 36/R. where R is resistance. Go at least a watt or two over the number you calculate.
                    Dave

                    #61386
                    lindy46
                    Participant

                      Is the mercury switch working? If you have no ground through the mercury switch, the starter won’t turn.

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