1981 Mastercraft Skier Restoration Electrical Help

[rmasterson]

I am in the process of restoring a 1981 Mastercraft Skier that has had some of the electrical wires cut and or disconnected by someone who was trying to "help" several years ago. I have a couple of basic questions that I would appreciate someone helping me with. The boat has a Pleasurecraft 351W engine that appears to be totally stock.

First, the heavy wire from the positive side of the battery has been disconnected and I am not sure where to connect it. Where does this wire connect to the electrical system on the engine?

Second, what wires connect the starter and starter relay to the electrical system?

Third, is there a starter solenoid?

Thank you for your help.

Ron

[TMCNo1]

This may help,
Attachment 57574

[TMCNo1]

Or this,
Attachment 57575

[rmasterson]

Thank you for the post. I have both of those schematics, but i am not sure what the starter solenoid looks like. From the top drawing, i see the battery hooks directly to the solenoid, but i don't know what it looks like.

[TMCNo1]

Originally Posted by rmasterson

Thank you for the post. I have both of those schematics, but i am not sure what the starter solenoid looks like. From the top drawing, i see the battery hooks directly to the solenoid, but i don't know what it looks like.

Depending what starter is on it now, but it should be on top of the starter with terminals for the wire or wires to bolt to and the starter should be on the starboard side of the motor, attached to the belhousing at the rear of the engine.
Attachment 57579

Attachment 57580

[rmasterson]

Mine looks like the one on top and that is what confused me. There is only one terminal on the starter. There is a relay on top of the motor that is connected to the breaker, but i am not sure how you keep the starter from being engaged all the time if the hot wire from the battery is run to the terminal on the starter. How does the relay connect to the starter?

[markismm]

Originally Posted by rmasterson

Mine looks like the one on top and that is what confused me. There is only one terminal on the starter. There is a relay on top of the motor that is connected to the breaker, but i am not sure how you keep the starter from being engaged all the time if the hot wire from the battery is run to the terminal on the starter. How does the relay connect to the starter?

--When looking at your starter solenoid you have two large posts. The top of the two large posts should have your positive wire from your battery connected to it and your charge wire from your alternator. The bottom of the two large posts should have a wire of equal size to your positive battery wire running from the bottom large post to the only hookup on your starter. It is a dead wire that becomes hot when your key is turned and the positive battery wire is thrown through the solenoid then through that wire to the starter. The two small posts have your neutral safety switch hooked up (one wire to each side, and your key ignition wire running to the same.

[markismm]

Oh yeah. I forgot, you safety breaker switch runs to the same hot wire post from your battery too.

[rmasterson]

Thank you to everyone for their help.

[rmasterson]

Is this what you are talking about?



Thanks for looking at it.