Bad Ignition Safety Switch

[DeaconBlues]

Re: Bad Ignition Safety Switch

The kill switch breaks the purple wire to disable the ignition.

Thanks Don. To dumn this down one final degree, the purple wire just controls whether or not the engine will fire? Under a normal operating situation, if were to pull the tether, the boat would die due to not having any spark, and if I turn the key, the starter will engage, and the engine will crank but will not fire... correct?

If so, this switch may have been a problem from the begginning off all my issues with this boat. I have been chasing fuel and electrical issues from the beginning because of a stutter and hestition that only happens when the boat is been running at operating temperature for 30 minutes or more. Everthing heats up, kill switch fails to keep that circuit closed, boat hesitates, studders, and at times dies. Can I just bypass the damn switch for good. I know the safety reasons, but who really wears that tether on a 19' open bow on a small lake?

 

[Don S]

Re: Bad Ignition Safety Switch

Thanks Don. To dumn this down one final degree, the purple wire just controls whether or not the engine will fire? Under a normal operating situation, if were to pull the tether, the boat would die due to not having any spark, and if I turn the key, the starter will engage, and the engine will crank but will not fire... correct?

Correct

Yes, you can bypass it, and it won't hurt the ignition system at all. But would be better to replace it.

 

[DeaconBlues]

Re: Bad Ignition Safety Switch

Well I know the starter is bad and I am sending it back, I just don't know why.

When I bench test it, everything looks good. Gear comes out hard and fast everytime. When I put it on the boat, all I hear is it spinning but it doesn't engage the flywheel.

I put my old starter on (which still works if you continuously smack it with a hammer), and the boat fired right up. So there is clearly no other problem like a bad ground or something.

I guess the new starter is just not buillt quite right and isnt reaching the flywheel (but why did it give me 20 or so good starts initially), or for some reason it appears strong enough on a bench, but under load just can't do the job. Either way, its going back and I am just praying for a new one that works right, and may have my original one rebuilt as well and just use one of them as a backup.

I'll give a final update as soon as I have the new starter.

 

[ifallsguy]

Re: Bad Ignition Safety Switch

Question about the starter. Is this an automotive or marine starter? Is there any difference in the reach of the bendix (auto vs marine)? It is possible the new starter is the wrong one and barely made contact with the flywheel, giving you 20 starts before the gear wore down a bit. Obviously the old starter was right since it will still start the engine.

I've seen this type of problem in cars where the bendix barely reaches, the new starter was shimmed out when not needed or just plain the wrong starter.

Make sure you are using a marine starter. You local auto supply will not neccesaryly order up the right (marine) starter unless you were very clear that's what you needed. And there is a difference between them (spark suppression).

Just interested.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Bad Ignition Safety Switch

There is no difference between a marine or automotive starter in regards to the bendix throw. The difference between a marine and automotive starter is the spark shielding only.

 

[DeaconBlues]

Re: Bad Ignition Safety Switch

It was a marine starter designed for my application. It was a rare manucfacturing error and they replaced it. Started problem resolved.

I've been out on the water and everything is perfect now. The shuddering/dying problem I have been fighting since the beginning is gone. I have posted three threads about it, chasing fuel and electrical issues, and it sounds like it was a bad kill switch the whole time. LOL

Oh well, live and learn right. Thanks everyone for all your help. She's running like a black snake now (as my great grandmother use to say).