Late '50s Johnson wiring harness – my alternative

[nj-boatbuilder57]

Last year I completed restoration of my ’57 Golden Javelin…..the only thing I didn’t dive into was the transom-mounted starter box + vintage harness. First, I didn’t have a starter box, and second the harness was dry-rotted (as most of them are). So I devised an alternate idea which has worked pretty nicely. I’ve had a lot of folks ask me about it, so I figured it might be of interest to others.

I recently broke down the engine to change a bad powerhead gasket, so while everything’s disassembled I took a few photos:

I have 3 cables exiting the front pan, right where the original harness would have connected. The battery cables are #4 welding cable, terminated at the battery with modern Anderson connectors. The controls are run through 6cond 16AWG cable to a modern Deutsch connector…

…but the question I’m most often asked is “how do you prevent the cables from being yanked out?” My solution was a block of white oak, cut & shaped to fit in the “well” in the pan. I drilled 3 holes for the cables, then sliced the block in half. The kerf of the saw blade “wasted” just enough of the wood so that the holes became just enough smaller that they would clamp the cables tightly.

I had to route out the wood block a bit to fit over the aft hump in the well, as seen here:

Snug as a bug in a rug. Clamped, but not pinched. Works great…

Now, that Deutsch connector mates to a cable on the transom that runs up to my boat’s dash to some simple switches: (L) Nav lights, (C) Choke [momentary], (R) Start [momentary “up”] as well as Mag Kill [maintained “down”]

Now, I can hear you saying, “but doesn’t this require the engine be attached & connected to the boat to start it?”, and the answer is “yes”….so to offset that limitation, I made a remote start box for testing, emergencies, etc.

And, if interested, the 6 control conductors that run to the dash and/or remote box are:

Red = +12V
Black = -12V (ground)
Green = Mag Kill Bottom
Brown = Mag Kill Top
Yellow = Solenoid
Blue = Choke

Anyway, I thought this might be of interest. Use or discard as you see fit….

• This topic was modified 6 years, 1 month ago by nj-boatbuilder57.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Moxy

[Craig Ordal]

Just read your wiring harness fix. I love it! I have a 1957 Javelin that I plan to start restoration on soon (as long as it is not too far gone). Building a wire harness is on the list of projects to complete. From the little looking I have done – purchasing a new harness can be done, but not inexpensively. Given the condition of my motor, I am thinking I may already need to spend a fair amount on mechanical parts – so saving on electrical would be perfect. And having a custom solution is always a plus… Again, thanks for sharing your great solution!

[Bob Wight]

Excellent piece of work!

Bob

1937 Champion D2C Deluxe Lite Twin
1954 Johnson CD-11
1955 Johnson QD-16
1957 Evinrude Fastwin 18
1958 Johnson QD-19
1958 Johnson FD-12
1959 Johnson QD-20

“Every 20 minute job is only a broken bolt away from a 3-day project.”
"Every time you remove a broken or seized bolt an angel gets his wings."

[EDWARD A. KOSTIK]

Thoughts on true fuel if you add your own 2 stroke oil…anyone try it? Its 94 octane and ethenol free!!!i

[fleetwin]

You mention that the harness running up to the dash includes light switches….Please be very careful…Do not mistake the magneto leads as grounds…Running accessory current through the coil primaries will destroy the coils quickly…

[frankr]

I like the oak “clamp”

[Author]

Posts