Mercury switch purpose and fiction of this item?

[Linkedit]

I’m going to fix some wiring on my 1970 650 and came across this item and not sure what it does? It’s purpose and function. I see the wires are probably beyond repair as there not much to work with. It’s sideways in the picture.

 

[Alumarine]

It's to kill the engine if the motor hits something and tilts up.
It stops the motor from over revving if the props out of the water.

 

[The Force power]

It's a safety switch for when the motor is running and for whatever reason the LU / prop flips out of the water (like almost horizontal) it kills the engine

 

[Linkedit]

Thanks folks. Appreciated

 

[Linkedit]

Would this kill the engine completely or just limit revs? I ask cause I haven’t gotten my boat up to the correct rpm range yet. Is this a potential cause? Just for trouble shooting purposes.

thanks

 

[GA_Boater]

It's is a kill switch, so it stops the motor. If switch wire happens to hit any metal, it will also kill the motor.

Check the rest of the wiring. With the mercury switch looking like that the rest of the wiring may be just as bad. Merc outboards of that vintage usually have crumbly wiring.

 

[Linkedit]

Thank you.