92 Rude 70 Neutral Lockout problems

[Stumpknocker]

92 Evinrude 70 on a Sea Nymph 17ft bass boat. Runs great.. cranks reliably...yet when fishing Sunday after several moves around the lake...it won't crank. <br /><br />Ran the primary battery down.... switched fuel tanks and batteries.... eventually (45 min) it cranks after letting it sit. Then we discover the shift lever is no longer working. Had to shift manually to get it in gear. Found that a plastic bushing on the gear cable had failed. It no longer held the cable firm and instead of engaging the forward or reverse.. it just slips the entire cable housing back and forth. <br /><br />Now we find that the thing will crank in Neutral or Drive or Reverse. Bombardier advises this is not normal and should have the ignition locked out unless in Neutral. <br /><br />Does anybody think that the failure to start along with the shift lever failure are just a coincidence? Motor cranks fine now in or out of gear. I don't think there are any problems in the carbs... runs great...other than this one time. Is there a connection between the failure of the shift linkage and the engine turning over and not firing? No way to test for fire on the water but have to assume there was fire. Possible bad ignition switch? Any thoughts or experience here?<br /><br />Thanks...

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: 92 Rude 70 Neutral Lockout problems

Sounds like the neutral safety switch in the control box is defective. It has a plunger(Nub) on it that, when in neutral, must be depressed for the motor to turn over. Check it out...

 

[clanton]

Re: 92 Rude 70 Neutral Lockout problems

Did you replace the cable?

 

[Stumpknocker]

Re: 92 Rude 70 Neutral Lockout problems

In response to rickdb1...I am going to check out the nub in a few minutes. Will get back to you shortly, however earlier looks in the control area failed to locate anything that looked like this button or nub..<br /><br />In answer to the last post... sorry the name escapes me.... We have not replaced the cable yet. We have disconnected it and are manufacturing a part to replace the bushing that wore out. A black plastic drum shaped bushing. The cable works great, just not able to hold the sleeve in place at the control box. Thus the whole cable rides back and forth and the shift lever at the engine fails to fully go forward or backward.

 

[Hooty]

Re: 92 Rude 70 Neutral Lockout problems

Your engine might be different but most won't even crank (starter spin) unless the neutral switch is closed.<br /><br />c/6<br />Hooty

 

[DJ]

Re: 92 Rude 70 Neutral Lockout problems

Gil009,<br /><br />The nuetral switch is inside the control box. You'll have to split the box to see it.

 

[clanton]

Re: 92 Rude 70 Neutral Lockout problems

It will have 2 yellow /red stripe wires connected to the switch.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: 92 Rude 70 Neutral Lockout problems

Replace the entire cable when you can. Nothing to fool with! Cheap insurance that will pay off. Now would be a good time when you have the control box apart...

 

[Stumpknocker]

Re: 92 Rude 70 Neutral Lockout problems

Hooty, I have a 48 Special (1995) and in gear it won't turn over either. According to Bombardier (I called them today) the 92 70 HP should not either.<br /><br />Rickdb1... you are right, nothing to see unless we take it all apart. The two wires attached to the front of this mechanism down low are both black.

 

[Stumpknocker]

Re: 92 Rude 70 Neutral Lockout problems

Also, aside from the shifting problem..... this model has 3 carbs of course, and my question ref the failure to start issue is IF a needle valve stuck in one of the carbs....would this preclude either of the remaining cylinders to attempt to sputter or fire when cranking? When it was "off" while on the lake it did not even fire off once. Not even an attempt. Just an engine being turned over by the starter. After sitting for about 3/4 of an hour it just fired up .... maybe it was flooded and needed to dry up. If one needle valve sticks, would it flood all 3 carbs...?

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: 92 Rude 70 Neutral Lockout problems

In a word, No. It may flood that particular cylinder, but not the others. It should have at least tried to start on the other 2 cylinders.

 

[Stumpknocker]

Re: 92 Rude 70 Neutral Lockout problems

Thanks, I was hoping that might be the answer. I really feel the carbs are fine as the boat runs so well at all rpm ranges. So, it must be something electrical.... hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: 92 Rude 70 Neutral Lockout problems

Maybe it just hit the right position on the neutral safety switch when you tried to start it. Maybe just lucky..

 

[Stumpknocker]

Re: 92 Rude 70 Neutral Lockout problems

I would like to think so, but there is still this nagging doubt. Will replace the cable and take it back out. Nothing else to be done I suppose.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: 92 Rude 70 Neutral Lockout problems

Got to add this.......that little black bushing is called a "trunion nut"....FYI...

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: 92 Rude 70 Neutral Lockout problems

If all was well before the trunion nut broke, there should be no doubt that this is the main problem. Put the new cable on and check the switch while you're in the control box and I'm sure all will be well. Did the shift lever "feel" normal, even though the cable was broke? In other words, did it lock into the neutral position and act like it did when the cable was still intact?

 

[Stumpknocker]

Re: 92 Rude 70 Neutral Lockout problems

Yes, it seemed quite the same and the linkage was all intact from a visual point. When I held the cable sleeve where the failed trunion nut used to grip... it would shift perfectly. Forward, neutral and reverse. This is why I am not quite as confident about the failure to start...but like you say....it would be quite a coincidence for it to be 2 problems at the same time.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: 92 Rude 70 Neutral Lockout problems

It doesn't take but just a bit for the neutral safety switch to not engage. Try the cables and I think you wil be fine. Check that switch out while your in there.

 

[Stumpknocker]

Re: 92 Rude 70 Neutral Lockout problems

I was thinking on that switch... if it failed to engage and locked out the ignition system.........how could the engine turn over...however dead? No firing was heard or observed whatever. Just engine turning over and over. If the switch had malfunctioned in neutral would this not have stopped the entire process? No fire, no engine rotation? At present, the engine will start in forward, reverse, and neutral.

 

[Hooty]

Re: 92 Rude 70 Neutral Lockout problems

Once more. The neutral switch doesn't keep the engine from starting. It keeps the starter motor from spinning.<br /><br />c/6<br />Hooty