1979 mercury 40 wiring

[MacDaddy]

I have a 1979 mercury 40hp, and I bought a non running 1980 mercury 40 hp for parts. I needed the ignition switch box from the 1980 because the one on the 1979 was melted. I have checked the part number and the switch boxes are interchangeable. However, the wire colors are slightly different on the 2 motors. I will do my best to explain the wiring, and maybe someone can tell me where my problem is.

From under the flywheel:
red wire to solenoid
black wire to ground
yellow to carb choke solenoid
orange wire that originally went to the junction box

From the new replacement CDI igntion box:
2 green wires, and one black, that go to the coils
1 red, 1 brown, 1 orange, 1 white, and 1 blue all go to the junction box

From under the flywheel:
2 yellow wires that go to a small box near the solenoid (not sure what this box is called)
1 red, and 1 blue, that both go to the junction box.

then there is one wire I am unsure of. It is a black wire with a yellow stripe. I had to cut this wire in order to disconnect the CDI box from the 1980 motor. on the 1980, this black/yellow striped wire goes from the junction box, to a group of wires that feeds up under the flywheel.

I am not sure of the purpose of this black/yellow striped wire, but when I moved the CDI box to the 1979, the only two wires that did not match up were the orange wire coming from under the flywheel, and the black and yellow striped wire that was attached to the junction box. I am not sure if i should splice the orange wire with the black and yellow wire, but it seems logical. Maybe someone can lead me in the right direction or clarify that for me. Thanks.

[boatmangc]

I have a 1979 mercury 40hp, and I bought a non running 1980 mercury 40 hp for parts. I needed the ignition switch box from the 1980 because the one on the 1979 was melted. I have checked the part number and the switch boxes are interchangeable. However, the wire colors are slightly different on the 2 motors. I will do my best to explain the wiring, and maybe someone can tell me where my problem is.

From under the flywheel:
red wire to solenoid
black wire to ground
yellow to carb choke solenoid
orange wire that originally went to the junction box

From the new replacement CDI igntion box:
2 green wires, and one black, that go to the coils
1 red, 1 brown, 1 orange, 1 white, and 1 blue all go to the junction box

From under the flywheel:
2 yellow wires that go to a small box near the solenoid (not sure what this box is called)
1 red, and 1 blue, that both go to the junction box.

then there is one wire I am unsure of. It is a black wire with a yellow stripe. I had to cut this wire in order to disconnect the CDI box from the 1980 motor. on the 1980, this black/yellow striped wire goes from the junction box, to a group of wires that feeds up under the flywheel.

I am not sure of the purpose of this black/yellow striped wire, but when I moved the CDI box to the 1979, the only two wires that did not match up were the orange wire coming from under the flywheel, and the black and yellow striped wire that was attached to the junction box. I am not sure if i should splice the orange wire with the black and yellow wire, but it seems logical. Maybe someone can lead me in the right direction or clarify that for me. Thanks.

The Black/yellow goes where the original orange wire went. The junction box is actually the switch box (power pack in layman's terms) the orange and the Black/yellow wires are your stop circuit.
The 2 yellow wires are going to what is most likely your rectifier unless it has a regulator.
The rectifier will have 3 terminals the 3rd being a red wire that will then go to the + side of your starter solenoid.
If it is a regulator it will just have 2 terminals.

[MacDaddy]

thank you very much for the clarification. so just to be sure, on the rectifier, does the red wire go just attach to the rectifier and then go to the positive side of the starter solenoid and nowhere else?

also, does it matter where the 2 yellow and red wires attach on the rectifier?

[MacDaddy]

also wanted to know if the the motor will run without the rectifier or if it has to be there. I would think it would have to be there, but I just want to be sure.