Anyone any good with outboards?

[guindilias]

Have an old Yamaha 50 (pre oil injection, suspect late 1980s), which is supposed to be electric start. Has been sat uncovered for a few years (cowling on, but no boat cover).
Finally got it to start and run by shorting the +ve of the battery straight to the starter, but the key (Yamaha 703 forward controls) won't spin up the starter.
I presume there is a solenoid/relay somewhere that could be dead? Any advice appreciated!

[Phud]

sounds more like the rotary starting switch than the starter, I say because you by passed the switch with the start and now the key is not spinning the starter, suspect the rotor.

[Slushbox]

Kill switch working? Presumably or it wouldn't start on the hot-wiring method....

[CubanPete]

Could be anywhere in the kill switch / key switch / relay series. You need to work your way through each one at a time.

[CubanPete]

Good news is you got it started

[guindilias]

Well, a happy ending after all that! Went through the wiring backwards from the starter, and it turned out to be the (extremely hard to get to!) starter solenoid. £50 later and it starts first time on the key. Thanks for the help!