Are kill cord all the same or they are engine brand dependant?

[shingo]

I'm really new to the boating world, so I'm sorry if the question is trivial for you.

Are all kill cord the same? I have a yamaha engine, do I need to buy one made specificly for yamaha outboard?

Thank you.

 

[shingo]

Re: Are kill cord all the same or they are engine brand dependant?

I found my answer, yes they are engine specific, but most of the kit come with the universal attachment.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Are kill cord all the same or they are engine brand dependant?

I assume you mean the clip and the fitting it clips to. There are several varieties, starting with each motor's brand, but I wouldn't be surprised to see some mismatched through the years.

So if your engine did not come with the cord and clip, but has the fitting, you do have to match it and best odds are start with Yamaha. However, I found that the replacement cord that comes with about 5 different clips costs about the same as a brand-specific, so I got that to have spares for my other motors and to help out those who lost/misplaced/forgot theirs (as has happened once at the "marina" and once at the hunt club).

One reason it's good to keep a spare on board is if you fall overboard with it attached, your crew will need a second one to start the motor and come get you. In windy or current conditions, it could be dangerous to leave the crew in a disabled boat. A few motors will restart if the kill switch is yanked out; test yours.

 

[gm280]

Re: Are kill cord all the same or they are engine brand dependant?

I understand what you're talking about with engine specific type kill switches, but I have never seen a kill switch that would not allow an operator to simply over-ride it for lack of the correct kill switch key being used... I?ve used Mercury type kill switches that flip a toggle switch if pulled. And I see universal types that pull a push/pull switch out disabling the engine. In both cases flipping the toggle switch the other direction will enable the outboard again and pushing the universal type in will allow the engine to crank up as well. And other then the engine specific kill switch key and lanyard, I think all outboards accomplish that motor kill in the very same way. So if you don't have any kill switch and are planning to install one for the safety factor, most any type will work equally well... Just connect according to your engine wiring... But understand they can be over ridden in an emergency too...

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Are kill cord all the same or they are engine brand dependant?

there are some you can't override b/c they hold a spring-loaded button out, and when yanked, the button goes in, closes the circuit and shorts the motor. I once had an old Yam that the kill button was on top of the clip, so you could push the button against the clip to kill it, or if youyanked the clip out, the button sprang in and killed it.

point is, play around with whatever you have to know what it takes to kill and to override.