Can i disable lanyard switch full time?

[BIGcarpy50]

I have mid 1990's omc controls on my 1973 50hp evinrude and the lanyard safery switch is cracked in half inside the controls. Can I remove this and run for the time being. I get spark when i disconnect the Black/yellow Wire at the powerpack so i know its the problem. will i be able to run with that wire disconnected?

 

[Xcusme]

Re: Can i disable lanyard switch full time?

Sure..BUT...you,re bypassing one of the safety requirements of the engine. Replacing the defective switch is the only way to be safe , good luck.

 

[BIGcarpy50]

Re: Can i disable lanyard switch full time?

i was just saying for this weekend. I want to hit up the walleye up here in NY

 

[jonesg]

Re: Can i disable lanyard switch full time?

If you disconnect the kill wire at the PP ...how are you planning to turn the engine off?

 

[F_R]

Re: Can i disable lanyard switch full time?

You "can" drive without seat belts too. If you know when you are going to wreck. Can you plan when you fall out of the boat?

 

[Outsider]

Re: Can i disable lanyard switch full time?

.. how are you planning to turn the engine off?

I'll bet he can use the key that came with the OMC controls!

 

[JWhit]

Re: Can i disable lanyard switch full time?

Have the same thing on mine and was thinking about removing the switch and connecting the wires on the inside of the control. not too worried about falling out on the lake...

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Can i disable lanyard switch full time?

I have mid 1990's omc controls on my 1973 50hp evinrude and the lanyard safery switch is cracked in half inside the controls. Can I remove this and run for the time being. I get spark when i disconnect the Black/yellow Wire at the powerpack so i know its the problem. will i be able to run with that wire disconnected?

Sure. You can take the battery out of your smoke alarm, too.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Can i disable lanyard switch full time?

Have the same thing on mine and was thinking about removing the switch and connecting the wires on the inside of the control. not too worried about falling out on the lake...

Now, there's a good idea. Since the outboard won't run after you do that, you'll be quite safe.

 

[F_R]

Re: Can i disable lanyard switch full time?

bigcarpy, get the picture? Of course you can disable the lanyard. But nobody here is going to tell you to do something unsafe. If you do it, you are on your own.

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: Can i disable lanyard switch full time?

only thing is the kill switch only works if you hook it up to your person..I have only ever seen the 80 MPH bass boat guys do it...I have never actually witnessed someone in a regular type fishing boat use one before...but then again theres a lot of things I never seen

 

[Kymatlo]

Re: Can i disable lanyard switch full time?

I wear mine every time I'm running at speed, and I don't have a big expensive 80 MPH bass boat. Hit a sand bar going 55 with TWO BOATS a couple years ago and threw about 5 people into the lake. All of us had been on that same lake dozens of times before and never seen that sandbar. My kill switch saved my outboard, not to mention my sister and girlfreind's lives, cus I was driving and landed on the front deck when we hit. No major injuries, but we were lucky. Don't mess with fire or you can be burned.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Can i disable lanyard switch full time?

Really? You've never seen that? I clip my lanyard to a belt loop as the first thing I do when I get into my little 12' aluminum boat with a 6hp Johnson. I'll probably never fall overboard, since I'm always seated in the boat, but you never know.

It's there. It's a safety feature. I use it.

I'll bet a lot of people use their shutoff lanyards.

 

[mattsanders]

Re: Can i disable lanyard switch full time?

I think you should disable it and remove it completely. Ill send you my address and you can mail it to me. My boat dont have one, and Im trying to find one.

 

[F_R]

Re: Can i disable lanyard switch full time?

I know of two people that got killed when they got tossed out of their boat and the boat continued around in a circle and ran over them. Both of these were before boats were fitted with safety lanyards. One of them was a five horsepower Johnson on a flat bottom wooden rowboat. The other was on a high performance bass boat. Both guys are dead.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Can i disable lanyard switch full time?

I know of two people that got killed when they got tossed out of their boat and the boat continued around in a circle and ran over them. Both of these were before boats were fitted with safety lanyards. One of them was a five horsepower Johnson on a flat bottom wooden rowboat. The other was on a high performance bass boat. Both guys are dead.

Yabbut, they were free not to follow safety precautions, I guess.

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: Can i disable lanyard switch full time?

wow FR..I never ever even heard of anyone I know or anyone who knows anyone I know, get hurt like that much less killed, and you know of 2 ..you must either know a lot of people or at least 2 real unlucky ones. I do how ever know a number of people that have died in automobile accidents and heart attacks and cancer, even heard of someone around here getting shot in an hunting accident a few years ago.

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: Can i disable lanyard switch full time?

I think I am going to see if the kill switch works in my bass boat and get a cord and start using it when running at speed. it will do around 40 mph and that can make a very violent sudden stop at that speed. not real worried about my 20 wellcraft though..very high sides with cuddy, no open bow.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Can i disable lanyard switch full time?

As one who actually has been tossed out of a boat and then "run over" by it, I would say to fix the lanyard, if you can. In my case, I popped up just in time to see the boat bearing down on me. By "backtreading" with my arms and scissor kicking with my legs/feet, I was able to avoid a direct hit, but the boat did hit one of my feet. Fortunately, what got me, was a strake along the chine, not the engine. It still took a chunk out of my foot, though.

A 1973 ERude 50hp motor did not originally have a kill switch lanyard. The black/yellow wire is what grounds the powerpack, when you turn the key switch off. If you disconnect it entirely, the motor will not shut down via the key switch. You will have to choke it or remove the fuel hose. Obviously, by doing this, you will make "two steps down," in terms of safety.

If you feel you must use the boat this weekend, at least make sure that the black/yellow wire is connected to the proper terminal on your key switch. Do yourself a favor, though - replace the lanyard switch as soon as possible, after the weekend.



???

 

[F_R]

Re: Can i disable lanyard switch full time?

I also have been ran over by a boat. But my brother was driving it and we were skiing. Just an example of a moment of carelessness.