Hot Wire?

[boaterntx]

I have a 1976 Merc 115hp with thunderbolt ignition & merc controls. I was doing some wiring work today & accidently pulled two of the wires off the back of the ignition switch. I had plans to go fishing so I desperatly tried to "hot wire" my motor with no luck. I hooked the red, yellow & white wires together & only seem to get spark every now & then & it's only for a split sec. it seems that if I lightly touch the white wire to the red & yellow that I can get some spark, but again it's only for a split sec & not enough to start the engine. Is there something I'm missing here or did I fry my switch box when I accidently let all the wires (red, salmon, white, yellow & black) touch each other. <br />TC

 

[Laddies]

Re: Hot Wire?

That is battery CD so you shoud not have

 

[boaterntx]

Re: Hot Wire?

Battery cd? what does that mean? Is it even possible to hot wire this rig? Could I not be doing something right?<br /><br />Thanks,<br /> TC

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Hot Wire?

Your 1976 motor has a distributor correct? If so to hot wire it, connect the red and white wires on the starboard side of the switchbox together, with a clip lead. This should provide you with spark. You will also need to jumper the starter solenoid from the red battery cable to the non-black (yellow?) primary coil wire, to start the motor. And you can use the manual choke knob. Of course, if wires are still touching each other at the ignition switch, you may yet burn something out, and you could start a fire. it would be best to tape up the loose wires.

 

[boaterntx]

Re: Hot Wire?

Yes it does have a dizzy & thanks.<br /><br /> When the wires shorted out, could I of blown something (ie. my switchbox or my Trigger)? I plan to try what chris said, if it doesn't work, how can I use my Meter to test & see if it the switch box or trigger? C

 

[Laddies]

Re: Hot Wire?

To test the box, connect the brn and white termanals on the 3 post side of the box with a jumper wire, turn the key on or jump the the white termanal, 4 post side to 12 volts, red termanal or battery, connect a wire to the blk termanal 3 post side when you arc the wire you should have spark if the box is good,

 

[boaterntx]

Re: Hot Wire?

thanks. I took a multimeter home @ lunch & did what I thought would be a test. I connected the white & red wires from the 4 post side of the box to the yellow wire (12v), I put my meter on the top two post on the 3 post side & it read -12v. if my box is good, whats the next step?

 

[Laddies]

Re: Hot Wire?

boater, you should have 12 volts on the red post all the time, on the white only when the key is on there is no yellow on the box so you have lost me, there are 2 yellows on the rectifier? If you continue to randomly cross wires you will burn something up, parts are expencive you will find thar out so enough. Either test as expained or buy a manual if you don't want advice--Bob

 

[boaterntx]

Re: Hot Wire?

i took the advice given except used a multimeter instead of arching out the wire. My yellow wire is the same as your "12 volts, red termanal or battery" I'm not green, I work on Pc's & Copiers every day I know about crossing wires & potential for damage. I appreciate the advice given here, but use it only as a starting point & derive a plan that best suits my ability.<br /><br />TC

 

[boaterntx]

Re: Hot Wire?

switch box is toast - or atleast it failed laddies test.

 

[imported_Curmudgeon]

Re: Hot Wire?

I'm not green, I work on Pc's & Copiers every day I know about crossing wires & potential for damage.<br /><br />Then why is there a need for this thread?

 

[boaterntx]

Re: Hot Wire?

there is a need to ask the Mercury Experts & get thier opinions. The post wasn't about crossing wires which I claim to be "not green" at. My post was about the 1976 115hp mercury ignition system, which I don't know that much about.<br /><br /> Why is there a need for your post. basically your just a waste of of your time & mine. but look, I'm playing into your little game effectively wasting more of my time.

 

[achris]

Re: Hot Wire?

Boater,<br /><br />Here are a couple of links to pervious threads that have test procedures for the switch box in them. (easier than writing them out again)<br /><br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=29;t=013424;p=1#000013 <br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=29;t=013507;p=1#000001 <br /><br />Good luck<br /><br />Chris.........