New shift plate and shift interuptor

[Buckynaked]

Hey guys first post. So y'all are probably sick of hearing about the shift interuptor, however I couldn't get mine to stall the engine so I got the updated plate and new switch mercruiser website said the interuptor switch that has the roller is obsolete now. So I installed the new plate and switch same problem so I tested the wires that were there and don't have any voltage on either wire, the guy I got the boat from had rewired alot of the boat so I think those wires are supposed to go the coil and one to a ground is that the correct way to wire the interuptor switch on a 1980 mercruiser 260 hp.(Chevy 350) prealpha drive(it has the hook loop on the top of the drive and the lift rams go to the end of the drive) (it's my first boat too)

 

[jbcurt00]

Moved

IMO, better served in the Mercruiser forum

 

[Bt Doctur]

need to know if the new push button switch is normally open or normally closed. put a meter across the 2 wires. does it read a short, or does it read a short when you push the button in.

 

[Buckynaked]

I believe the switch is normally open... so "if" you hook one wire to positive going to coil and the other to ground when you shift it should interuptor the coil to ground by closing the switch to ground?... thanks for the reply.

 

[achris]

No, not the positive on the coil, definitely not. Do that and you will cook the switch, and pop fuses and breakers... it needs to be connected to the points side of the coil, that should be the negative.

Chris.

 

[Buckynaked]

Can you be more specific please what do you mean points side? is there extra wires on the distributor that I am supposed to get on

 

[Buckynaked]

So I found this looks like one wire goes to ground one goes to distributor side if the coil. Dies anybody know if this is correct for the 5.7

 

[Bt Doctur]

thats for a omc heres a merc http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/13/13E4R2.PDF
motor we need to know what type of switch it is. do you read a short across the leads at rest or do you read a short with the button depressed

 

[achris]

.......on a 1980 mercruiser 260 hp.

Can you be more specific please what do you mean points side? is there extra wires on the distributor that I am supposed to get on

If your engine ignition system hasn't changed from original configuration supplied by the manufacturer, then you will have a set of points in the distributor. There is a wire from one side of the coil to the points in the distributor, and the shift interrupt switch must ground this wire, never the supply to the coil. (ie, connect the cutout switch wire to the terminal of the coil that has the wire that runs to the points).

Chris.......

 

[Buckynaked]

Thank you Chris I'll give it a try and update after. Thank you for the I.e....

 

[Buckynaked]

I tried hooking the switch up with one wire went to ground the other went to distributor side of coil still couldn't interrupt the motor down to a stall. Should that switch be able to stall the motor?, Maybe I hooked the wrong wires to each side, I'll try again this weekend and update later. Any other ideas please let me know

 

[achris]

Activating and holding the switch should stall the enigne yes. Polarity is not in question. Doesn't matter which wire you put to ground or coil-, just make sure the ground is solid (electrically).

 

[Buckynaked]

That's what I thought, I am at a loss as to why it wouldn't stall out it didn't even struggle

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,..... If ya ground the coil's (-) terminal, the motor will die,...

Obviously, yer doin' something wrong,.....

 

[Buckynaked]

Ya no kidding I didn't even think the ground could be no good!.. it's always the stupid things that you don't check. I'll get the old multimeter out this weekend and get back to y'all. Like I said the guy rewired alot of this boat. So I'll check the ground I was using and for testing purposes I'll just direct wire the coil - to battery - and see what happens.

 

[achris]

Direct wire to the engine block.

 

[Buckynaked]

No continuity in the new switch ... the ground I was using tested good I'll direct wire once I get it running on muffs later today

 

[achris]

Are you checking fo the switch to be working by just pulling it out of gear when it's running on the muffs, because that will not activate the switch. Try just pressing down on the lever with the engine running. That should stall the engine.

 

[Buckynaked]

Yes I am activating the switch I thought maybe it wasn't adjusted in or out enough so I took the switch off the plate and actually manually pushed the switch in with my thumb.

 

[Buckynaked]

Sorry it's been so long, the ground I was using was no good it was painted so it wasn't getting a good connection. After I cleaned it up I wired the switch to the ground and the other wire to the coil negative works like a champ.