Convert 15HP Honda 4 stroke to electric start.

Very nice neighbor lady finds herself widowed and wishes to go crabbing with her husband's boat and 15 horse, manual start but wants to know if it is convertible to electric start and would like an idea of how much it might cost (it is a 3 year old engine). Thanks.

If it is done correctly...several things need to be changed and it starts getting costly. Can short cuts be made...probably. Will they be safe? Probably not.

Also, if not correctly can affect the warranty...which should still have a couple of years on it.

That being said...the following is a list of some of the basic pieces that would be needed. This does not include grommets and smaller items.

Flywheel
Starter
Starter switch
Starter/battery cable assy
Neutral safety switch assy
Wire harness assy
Rectifier (start switch picks up its power from the rectifier).

This does not include upgrading the charging circuit.

The retail price just for the parts mentioned above...$915. That does not include any labor. Part of the labor is the time to figure out exactly what will be needed.

I know of no kits or instructions available from Honda to do this.

I know it does not make any sense, but the difference between electric and pull start of a new 15HP is less than $400. Go figure.

Mike

Thank you so much for the parts needed list. I had guessed that the price, if possible, would be somewhere between 1500 to 2k. Your confirmation is of a great help in her making a decision.

She would probably be better off selling the pull start and putting the money toward a late model electric start. There are many for sale these days depending on your location. What do you think Mike?

I am convinced that moving to another motor is her best option. I certainly appreciate the reinforcement.

Do you have any info on flywheel part number required to do this modification. I am currently doing the same thing.
Have everything but the flywheel, got wrong part from BOATS.NET

Hi Claude,

Welcome to the forum.

I've never tried doing this so I'm no expert.

Does your existing flywheel have a "starter ring"?
Meaning: does it have the teeth needed for a starter motor pinion gear to engage and turn the flywheel?

The parts illustration shows the pull start only flywheel...

...(Part# 31110-ZY1-000ZA) ...

....as having a starter ring and it might work with an electric starter, as is, if you wire up a start switch and relay.

If so, maybe you don't need to change it out. If you already have a starter, you might want to see if you can fit it up to work.

I say that because I don't think that the electric start flywheel....

.....(part# 31110-ZY1-800ZA)....

....would work with your existing charge and exciter coils.

That flywheel only works with the 12 amp charge coil assembly to my knowledge.

Additionally, I don't think that your 15 hp engine has the necessary mounting holes to secure the 12 amp charge coil to accommodate a "complete refit".

Just telling you the way I see it.
I could be wrong.....often am.

Good luck.