Motor Wont turn over?

[jkg1]

I have a older 1980 hydro bass boat with a Evinrude 1985 90 HP out board motor. The other day I went out on the lake the motor cranked up everytime time until the end of the day. I tried to crank it, and nothing, no sound, and no turnover.

So luckliy after 20 mins of moveing the throttle lever up and down I finally got it started. While sitting at the boat ramp I decided to press my luck, and turned the motor offk, and it did it again. Luckly I managed to get it started once again using the same measure of before.

So I tried today I can't get it to turnover for nothing. Not even playing with the lever etc.

I'm thinking maybe a neutral safety switch may be bad. I opened the control box to have a look, and remove old grease and regrease.

I took some pics so maybe someone cold help me in maybe locating the problem.

I'm guesing the 2 yellow, and striped red wires are the two going to the safety switch is there anyway to bypass the switch to see if it is the problem?


Also what else should I check within this box or motor if it turns out the nuetral safety is ok?

Thanks Alot for any help

 

[JB]

Re: Motor Wont turn over?

Check battery cables and terminals, both ends. Remove, clean and reattach. Let us know what happens.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Motor Wont turn over?

just push in on the switch plunger, try starting. could be an adjustment, 0174226 NEUTRAL START SWITCH KIT

90% of starter problems are bad connections. remove and clean both ends of the battery cables, so that they are shiney, also the cable from the solenoid to starter. check for nicks in the cables. and make sure the connectors are on the wire good. the cable tend to corrode from the inside out, if nicked, corroded wires, and connections, heat up and cause resistance to the follow of electricity, thus the starter doesn't get enough. you can also take jumper cable pos battery post to large post on starter. with a good connection, the engine should spin. then if the starter is good clean everything and retest. then trouble shoot solenoid. starters can be rebuit at a starter/alternator shop, much cheaper than a new one.

also have the battery load tested at the auto parts store, free, i've had new batteries go bad

 

[jkg1]

Re: Motor Wont turn over?

Thanks Alot that helped a ton. I did as said, and jumped the starter and she turned over fine. I can finally get a good nights sleep knowing my motor turns over, and the problem isnt there.

I checked the nuetral safety switch it seems to be working ok.

But I have a guy who doesnt charge much labor who is going to come take a look, and diagnose if the ignition switch is bad, or the other two parts in the control box is bad. Plus the throttle gear in the control box seems to be caught in a bind. So I figure I'd just let a pro do it before i make things worse by trying to take the gear out and put it back into place etc.

I'll post back in a day or so when I get the boat back. But I'm thinking it may be the ignition switch gone bad as I wasnt getting voltage there. But on the other parts in the control box was.

 

[jkg1]

Re: Motor Wont turn over?

Looks like Imma have to do this myself. It's my first boat so I'm kinda lost here.

How does the neutral saftey switch work? When should it get voltage on it, Just when it is neutral, or at all times?

Also are they any fuse's along the path from the control box to the motor? That would keep the motor from turning over? I jumped the starter and she turned over so I belive it is in the starter selinoid, or the control box. Any other areas I should check next?

Also how would I go about checking the ignition switch? Anyone have a wiring diagram or guide?

One more question in the picture I posted I see i have a ignition switch, I think the other is a buzzer, and a neutral safety switch. I was wandering what the last part is in the control box? The part with the 2 black wires coming out the top of it. Any idea?

ALso I'm having a problem removing the main gear in the control box. It's out of wack I beleive one of the ball's got out of place. I've unscrewed everything on the inside the control box that could be holding the main gear, but the gear doesn't wanna budge, I don't really see any screws in the front of the shifter. Any idea what could be holding it?

Thanks for any help.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Motor Wont turn over?

neutral switch disable the start system when the motor is in gear. when the plunger is pushed in. you should have power in neutral.

there is near the starter solenoid a small red inline fuse holder, this is power to the ignition system. 20 amp.

2 black wires--- good question.

the big round part just slides off, get a pair of channel locks and turn it back and forth, pull.

 

[jkg1]

Re: Motor Wont turn over?

Thanks Alot

I got it going after reading this before going out to work on it today.

Turns out we was getting only around 9 volts at the ignition switch. Traced the wire back, and noticed where the inline fuse was, the two joints on each side of the inline fuse was bare wire, and loose. Bought a new inline fuse holder and replaced the old one, and it's good as new.

BTW turns out the two black wires was the kill switch. I never even knew I had one. Guess I can make use of it after finding it as well.

Thanks Again for all the help