Reply To: 1958 Evinrude 4- Fifty horse, model 50012 advice

[Jeffls]

<!–more–>Frank, thank you for the help. Looking at the parts fiche online, it does look like 50012 didn’t have electric start. Looks like you had to go up to the 50514 to get electric start. The model number I got off the freeze plug on the block. The plate at the back of the motor near fuel hookup is worn pretty good that I can’t read it.
I guess it’s possible it’s a 50514 motor with a power head from a 50012? Or perhaps it is a 50012 and someone added the starter at some point.
As for the junction box, no. It is a home built junction box. It’s pretty much a universal electrical work box, with harness from  the ignition switch running into, another harness out to the motor, a fuse for power to the ignition switch, a fuse for the electric choke, a generic marine grade barrel solenoid, and battery positive and ground in, starter power and ground out to the motor.
I initially jumped the starter solenoid to get it to crank, then traced the wiring and found the solenoid at least got powered when when key was turned to crank just had no ground. Applied ground to the solenoid coil and was then able to get it to crank  with the ignition key. After that I found had no sparked searched around online and found someone who had a 59 Johnson with similar problem and the wiring diagram attached was posted. I believe mine is wired the same way just without the generator.

The previous owner had said he had it running and running well. He said he put it away for the season, then life kicked in, he had a child and the boat sat since then. He  is a friend and co worker of mine who I work with everyday so I’m hoping he’s truthful that it did run.
I will get some pictures if I can later today, I have some pics of the motor with the cover on, but nothing with the cover off.
Thank you again.