Retro fitting an electric start on a 1956 mark 55

[Michael Connolly]

HELLO FOLKS , BEEN A MEMBER FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES, I WAS TOLD BY CHIP @ Chips Outboard & Marine THAT IF THERE IS AWNSERS TO BE HAD , THIS IS THE PLACE THAT WILL HAVE THEM. CHIP SEEMED RATHER BRILLIANT IN HIS OWN RIGHT. IM RESTORING A 1956 BLUE STAR, ISLANDER RUNABOUT. IVE ONLY SEEN 6 IN PICTURES AND LAYED HANDS ON ONLY MINE IN THE 25 YEARS THAT IVE OWNED IT, GOES TO GEL-COAT NEXT WEEK.. GETTIN TO THE QUESTION I HAVE A 54 AND A 56 MERC MARK 55, I WOULD LIKE TO RETRO TO A ELEC START PREFERABLY TO THE 56. BEING THE MY BOAT ,MOTOR AND I WERE ALL BUILT IN THE SAME YEAR, AND MY BODY HOUSES AS MUCH METAL AS MY MOTOR DOES, ELEC START WILL BE A NESESSARY THING. IF ANYONE WOULD HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND MAYBE THE PARTS PLEASE LET ME KNOW. FYI BEEN RIDING HARLEYS ALL MY LIFE, IN THE EARLY 70s WE USED MERC PRESTOLITE STARTERS ON THEM, 1/3 THE PRICE OF HARLEY. CAN A MODERN STARTER BE ADAPTED. THANK YOU HOPE TO HERE FROM YA’LL

[Michael Connolly]

im looking fo a 56 mark 55E flywheel if anyone has one, 843-296-6744 mike

[dave-bernard]

Large or small taper??

[Michael Connolly]

i beleive small , my serial number is 971964, from what i read early 56

[jrm80]

Yes, it can be done. I have what i think is a 1958 mark 55 and had the same dilemma you do. I’m old and have no interest in cranking this or any outboard motor. It probably isn’t worth it unless you are committed to doing so, but that’s true for most any old outboard. But we do it anyhow.

What you’ll need is a flywheel, (as Dave points out, determine if you have the large or small taper) a stator, rectifier and mounting bracket, choke solenoid, choke linkage, a magneto start switch ( a battery style switch will not work), a starter, starter solenoid, dash mount choke switch, a lower cowl pan, and internal and external wiring. I’m probably forgetting a few things, but these parts will get you most of the way. With regard to the lower cowl, you need it for the internal wiring hole that all the wiring goes through. There were two size holes, the early one had a small hole which used a conduit style fitting and the later cowl which used the plug on the side of the engine. I would avoid the small hole one, as the external fitting that it takes is expensive and rare as is the internal wiring fitting. Next, you’ll have to rewire the whole engine as the insulation will be falling off of the wiring. I used silicone wire for that as it is extremely flexible and a joy to work with. It’s a little pricey, but worth it. If you decide to go ahead with this project, there’s a better option for the rectifier and it’s cheaper. Let me know if you need that info.

Good luck

Jim McCarthy

[Michael Connolly]

Just from your list of parts it sounds a little overwhelming but pull start is not an option the boat has a dry transom making it difficult to reach the motor. ive had the boat in the water a few years ago w/ a 30hp mariner, so im not exactly a purest when it come to staying period correct, but function would be critical. that being said if i wasn’t concerned with a charging system at present, could i get away with just remote starter, flywheel, solenoid, starter, choke and link, mag switch( wasnt aware of this). the lower cowl has a switch in the front, push-pull, i assumming a kill switch which i could utilize for wiring hole. i have a boat load of areo-quip waterproof connectors (no pun intended). can a start and stop be simplifyed. i’ll pull the flywheel today. and start there. the engine appears to have had some motor work done , liquid gasket sealer at the head but the timing belt was dry-rotted off it. the story i got was it came from a collection, where the collector went to the great pond in the sky, as we all will. i wll keep your list of parts and begin the hunt. picked up a service manual, i would like the rectifier info thank you, mike connolly

[dave-bernard]

You dont need all those parts.
you need a flywheel starter solonoid. choke linkage and solonoid make your own wiring. the rest is for charging not needed . they run with no battery . battery is for start only. will last a long time on 1 charge. even if i goes dead you still have the pull start.
1 914 310 7086.

[Michael Connolly]

Pulled the flywheel, the bottom side, large side of the taper is approx 7/8″ dia. i don’t have another to compare it to , i beleive it is a small crankshaft, can anyone confirm that. thanks mike

[Pondrocket]

Michael,

Where are you located?

Here is some useful info…. Make sure you get yourself an manual.

Travis

Travis
AOMCI VP Communications
AOMCI Webmaster
webmaster@aomci.org

[Pondrocket]

another

Travis
AOMCI VP Communications
AOMCI Webmaster
webmaster@aomci.org

• This reply was modified 4 years, 4 months ago by Pondrocket.

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