key switch trouble shooting.....

[0rion]

Re: key switch trouble shooting.....

I'm going to take this boat to the lake. Blow a hole in it and drink beer watching it sink to the bottom with a smile on my face. haha My buddy came over and I put that switch back in (long story but determined it was ok). Cranked and cranked on it for hours then it finally started. Now it starts and runs like it's brand new but I've been here before. I'll go out in a couple of days and be right where I was. We talked about it and we're wondering if it just has a weak spark and that's why it's so hard to start but runs fine after that initial start???

 

[Silvertip]

Re: key switch trouble shooting.....

What you might want to look at is the power pack where the wire harness enters the pack. I've seen a few of these packs go intermittent at that point as well as within the harness connector. Rest assured however, the ignition switch had nothing to do with the no-start.

 

[0rion]

Re: key switch trouble shooting.....

I'm really wondering if there isn't something like that going on. It seems that everytime I've gotten this thing to start running it's been after I've messed with those wires. Today I pulled the 3 and 5 pin amphenol connectors apart to ohm out the charge and sensor coils. Last spring when I got it to run I had been moving those wires around looking for chaffed wires. I used di-electric grease on those connectors so they're not corroded but maybe they're damaged or something further down?

 

[0rion]

Re: key switch trouble shooting.....

won't start again today. It's raining so I can't really get out and work on it today. I'm starting to believe that maybe that spark is just weak. Once you get it to start the first time you only have to bump the key after that and it fires right up.

 

[bob johnson]

Re: key switch trouble shooting.....

won't start again today. It's raining so I can't really get out and work on it today. I'm starting to believe that maybe that spark is just weak. Once you get it to start the first time you only have to bump the key after that and it fires right up.

weak spark is weak spark......I cant see how the motor starting 5 minutes ago helps make the spark stronger

if your starter isnt turning the motor to minimum rpms, it wont make spark...if you are straddling that rpm level, then it could be that it starts and then it wont...but usually the battery just gets weaker, thus not allowing the starter motor enough power to acheive those RPMS..


I was having kinda the same problem..... weak starter...

charge your battery, and take the plugs out and see if you can get spark( i assume by now you have a spark tester)

or use a timing light and point it at yourself while you crank...

thats just to verify spark....not trouble shoot electrical parts


good luck

bob

 

[Silvertip]

Re: key switch trouble shooting.....

I've also seen the individual pins in the pack connector move out of position which makes for an intermittent connection. Check the terminals to make sure they are all in the same position relative to each other.

 

[0rion]

Re: key switch trouble shooting.....

weak spark is weak spark......I cant see how the motor starting 5 minutes ago helps make the spark stronger

if your starter isnt turning the motor to minimum rpms, it wont make spark...if you are straddling that rpm level, then it could be that it starts and then it wont...but usually the battery just gets weaker, thus not allowing the starter motor enough power to acheive those RPMS..


I was having kinda the same problem..... weak starter...

charge your battery, and take the plugs out and see if you can get spark( i assume by now you have a spark tester)

or use a timing light and point it at yourself while you crank...

thats just to verify spark....not trouble shoot electrical parts


good luck

bob

that's what I would think too but none of it makes sense really because whatever the issue is as soon as you can get it to fire once it cranks on the first bump the rest of the day. I could rope start it if I wanted too....that's how easy it starts after that initial start. Seems to me a spark or fueling issue would be a spark or fueling issue and it'd be hard to start everytime. The starter also spins it pretty dang fast so I can't imagine it being weak.

I've also seen the individual pins in the pack connector move out of position which makes for an intermittent connection. Check the terminals to make sure they are all in the same position relative to each other.

When it stops raining a couple days from now I'm going to follow your guys advice and see where that gets me. I really appreciate you guys taking the time to help me get it figured out. I heard back from the marina and they said they might be able to get to it aound the end of this month so I have them as a back up plan. I sure would like to get it figured out by then though. I'm not mechanically stupid.....I just have zero experience with boat motors. It bothers me that I haven't figured this thing out and that's the number one reason I'd like to fix it myself. The other reason is my lack of faith in this marina....I called to see if they had a part in stock yesterday and had to get on a call back list for them to check on the part. They called me 3.5 hours later. Just doesn't seem like I'm going to get my boat back in a timely manner if I do take it to them.

 

[0rion]

Re: key switch trouble shooting.....

wanted to update the thread......it was a bad powerpack. Put a new powerpack on today and it fired up at the first bump of the key and was purring like a kitten. 2.5 years worth of headache over and done with....now I can move on to the next headache. haha I'm extremely happy right now. Got my boat back in time for fishing season and it didn't cost me an arm and leg to do it.