Starter solenoid question

[kicker]

I pulled my rear ebox completely apart on the 97 GSX to redo all the connections and +/- cables. My problem is, the solenoid is not the typical side by side post style. The one I have has 1 post on the bottom and 1 on the top and I forget which cable went on which post. If I power it up with the yellow wire on the bottom I can get the current to flow through the solenoid both ways.

My question is, does it matter which way the current goes through the solenoid? I am thinking it just bridges the circuit to make a connection from one post to the other, but not sure.

 

[LouDoo]

Looks like an older style solenoid, and for your question, as we say in Kentucky, "it don't matter". Are those block off plates on the RAVE valves?

Lou

 

[Coastiejoe]

Current passing through does not matter. The small read wire with the large eye will bolt to the post you put your battery wire to. The small pink wire will be your trigger wire (start button feed). I see a yellow wire but that is not part if the start circuit. What end is in the yellow wire? Do you know where it goes to?

 

[Coastiejoe]

Sorry Lou, I was typin while you were postin.

 

[kicker]

Looks like an older style solenoid, and for your question, as we say in Kentucky, "it don't matter". Are those block off plates on the RAVE valves?

Lou

Thanks Lou, that makes it easier. Ya those are the patented block offs from Racer. I have all my skis in the shop at the farm and if anything looks like a piece of scrap to the untrained eye it gets used or thrown out, so I just paint everything seadoo purple that is homemade. My VTS nut tool went missing 3 times before. Now they know, leave the purple stuff alone.

 

[kicker]

Current passing through does not matter. The small read wire with the large eye will bolt to the post you put your battery wire to. The small pink wire will be your trigger wire (start button feed). I see a yellow wire but that is not part if the start circuit. What end is in the yellow wire? Do you know where it goes to?

Thanks, but I thought the yellow (actually yellow/red) wire went to the bottom of the solenoid. There is a white wire there that goes to the coil. Not sure what wire you are referring to as pink?

 

[68ragtop]

I believe you should have a black wire to one of the small post (solenoid coil) connection & the yellow/red goes to the other small post. doesn't matter which side. Then the battery & starter wire can go on either side of the large terminals, as long as the red/purple is hooked up to the same wire that goes back to your battery. Do you have more wires than that? I think thats all there should be.... ?


I see the others, but I don't see the black which should be a common ground wire...

 

[kicker]

I believe you should have a black wire to one of the small post (solenoid coil) connection & the yellow/red goes to the other small post. doesn't matter which side. Then the battery & starter wire can go on either side of the large terminals, as long as the red/purple is hooked up to the same wire that goes back to your battery. Do you have more wires than that? I think thats all there should be.... ?


I see the others, but I don't see the black which should be a common ground wire...

Yes your correct, the yellow to small post on bottom, black to other small post on bottom (not hooked up in pic), small red from fuse to post with battery cable. That will account for all the wires I have.

 

[68ragtop]

sweet! Is that an aftermarket solenoid? Weren't the original ones a plug in type?

 

[kicker]

sweet! Is that an aftermarket solenoid? Weren't the original ones a plug in type?

Ya probably like Lou said, an earlier style, not really sure, there no markings on it anywhere. This is the one the ski game with, much like your DI project, someone was screwen around in there. The plug on the bottom of the solenoid is gone and the wires were all the wrong colors.Also the grey plug that goes into the cap is gone and all the wires are hard wired and shrink wrapped where the plug used to be. The thing is, they didnt use the same color wire, so outside of the box was one color and then changed to a different color inside the box.

Oh well, its all good now. Thanks for the help guys.

 

[LouDoo]

There's really nothing special about the SeaDoo solenoids, I had one go bad while I was at the lake replaced it with one I found in a junk box at the marina, I think it was out of an Evinrude, worked great.

Lou

 

[- BiRkS_]

The old evinrude/OMC trim solonoids are bulletproof! Hardly ever ever go bad! Ive seen boats sunk for 2 weeks in salt water come out, and the engine was screwed, but the trim still worked!

If possible, always get a higher amp rated solonoid. I've seen some low amp solonoids melt/stick on when the button is released and kills the starter and battery.

Kicker, I recommend you get some actual heat shrink crimp connectors and replace the iffy wiring, especially that main pos wire going to the fuse. Princess auto sells an assorted container for 25$ sometimes. Worth every penny!

 

[marquisman]

Looks like you have a mercruiser start slave/trim solenoid. Very simple hook up. Little posts are power and ground.

 

[kicker]

Kicker, I recommend you get some actual heat shrink crimp connectors and replace the iffy wiring, especially that main pos wire going to the fuse. Princess auto sells an assorted container for 25$ sometimes. Worth every penny!

Thanks Birk, already done. I bought a few packs of those a while back from McMaster Carr. It is amazing that whole box functioned, as I was playing around connectors where literally falling of the wires.

Looks like you have a mercruiser start slave/trim solenoid. Very simple hook up. Little posts are power and ground.

Good to know, if your in a pinch somewhere any auto parts store or marina would probably have something that will work. Might have to pull the fancy plug off the bottom.

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

Make it look purty! And use good stuff, not cheap junk!

 

[richardpr]

What are the block off plates for?

 

[marquisman]

Make it look purty! And use good stuff, not cheap junk!

lol ''wiz-a-roo''

 

[kicker]

What are the block off plates for?

Just to keep the dirt out for now. Took the tuned pipe off to weld it, while cleaning the manifold gasket area the dirt falls into the Rave slots. I will be using the block offs later to pressure test the motor.