no start

[billy boater]

I have a ford 2.3 with a omc drive and it wont turn over unless u wiggle the throttle back and foruth. i wondering if the neutral safty switch could be bad. i dont think its the starter cuz when i do get it to crank it cranks just fine. it started out just once in a while i would have to wiggle the throttle back and fourth to start it and now i wont even start. its like it thinks its in gear when u try to start it. any tips on what to do or what exactly i have to replace would be awsome thanks much..................

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: no start

Howdy,

Depends on what you have for a throttle quadrant. If it's the OEM OMC one there might not be parts available for it.

All pleasure boats are supposed to have "start-in-gear" protection according to federal law (USCG regs)

You may need to replace the throttle quadrant. There is a small microswitch that is in the wire (series) that runs from your key switch to the starter solenoid. It only allows power to the starter solenoid when the control is in neutral.

You might be able to replace the switch. You'll have to remove the whole thing from the side panel to determine.

Regards,


Rick

 

[bruceb58]

Re: no start

I had the same problem with my control. You may be able to adjust the microswitch but in my case, I got so tired of it, I replaced my control.

 

[billy boater]

Re: no start

by control do u mean the trottle contorl? what should i start out testing? i do have a volt meter how do i diagnose this prob exactly?? i did call the marina they do have a micro swicth but i do wanna make sure what the prob is before i go throwing parts at it

 

[bruceb58]

Re: no start

You really have to take your control apart. If you have wiggled the gearshift/throttle around and gotten it to start, you have isolated it already to the microswitch. These microswitches generally have little or no adjustments but the two holes that they are mounted to a plate usually allow some slop. You need to take apart the control, loosen up the switch and move the switch into a postion that allows the boat to start and then tighten up the switch.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: no start

if the engine will crank by "wiggling" the throttle/shifter, it's in the control.

It needs to come out and you need to look it over carefully. You can use your multi-meter (in the ohms/continuity setting) to check the switch or even adjust it.

The control is probably 20+ years old though. It might be better to replace it.

 

[billy boater]

Re: no start

ok so i took looked at my throttle control and there is no micro switch in it. the switch is mounted on the exhaust manifold with two cables running to it. one pulls it forward and one pulls it backward. does this sound right or am i not looking at the right part????

 

[slasmith1]

Re: no start

ok so i took looked at my throttle control and there is no micro switch in it. the switch is mounted on the exhaust manifold with two cables running to it. one pulls it forward and one pulls it backward. does this sound right or am i not looking at the right part????

that is your shift interrupt switch it causes a slight ignition system "miss" when you shift so the dog style clutch in your out drive can disengage.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: no start

ok so i took looked at my throttle control and there is no micro switch in it. the switch is mounted on the exhaust manifold with two cables running to it. one pulls it forward and one pulls it backward. does this sound right or am i not looking at the right part????

How many wires go to your control. The microswitch may be buried inside the control.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: no start

ok so i took looked at my throttle control and there is no micro switch in it. the switch is mounted on the exhaust manifold with two cables running to it. one pulls it forward and one pulls it backward. does this sound right or am i not looking at the right part????

It appears that you're saying that there's a throttle cable and a shift cable at the shift/throttle control. AND NO OTHER WIRES

If that's true then the "neutral switch" must be back on the engine at the shift plate etc.


You are going to have to post what you have EXACTLY.

That will mean make/model/year/serial numbers etc.

OMC had service manuals each year or so and they changed the model numbers each time.

Most all modern boats (Mine was a 1987 model King Cobra) have the start in gear protection at the shift quadrant.

If yours is a 1987 or newer Cobra, it should have wires going to the shift/throttle control. If it doesn't, someone may have removed them.