Shut off in gear, Won't restart

[launboy]

This has happened twice now. Boat is a 1998 Four Winns Horizon 20 with a 5L VP with SX drive. Boat starts great cold or warm, right away or after hours doesn't matter, very reliable engine, runs great too.

First time last summer, out on Lake Michigan tubing, rider fell off, turned around to pick them up, shut the engine down but forgot to take it out of gear first. Shifted to neutral but it wouldn't start. Turn the key and can hear the fuel pump whirring but it won't crank. Still has power, lights work, motor trims up and down, etc. After screwing with it checking fuses, turning wheel, shifting into gear and back to neutral still nothing. Get towed in, 50ft from the dock, try one last time and it fires right up.

Yesterday, first time out this year, same thing, boat ran great all day, anchored to swim. got tubers on, started boat put it in gear hit the gas and immediately realized anchor was still down. In panic shut the engine off in gear. Put her in neutral and nothing, same as before. Tried all same stuff still only fuel pump but no attempt to crank, got towed back(short tow) and it still wouldn't crank. Have power for everything so its not a dead battery. Tow her home, hit the key and whaddya know, she cranks fine.

Anybody know whats going on?

Thanks

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Shut off in gear, Won't restart

Sometimes water can get up the exaust and fill a cylinder thru the exaust valve. Motor appears to be locked up but eventually turns. Is the oil a bit milky?The water goes past the rings .

 

[RCSConstruction]

Re: Shut off in gear, Won't restart

Stuck/Bad relay? Obviously a starter interrupt/ESA issue.
Next time try and unplug the battery cable from the battery.. Just a guess..

 

[launboy]

Re: Shut off in gear, Won't restart

Bt Doctor, I don't think it's that, the engine doesn't appear locked up with the problem occurs. It's not that the starter can't spin it, it's that the starter isn't even getting power when the keys turned, no relay click or anything.

We think it has to be a switch that senses whether the motor's in gear isn't adjusted quite right or something and when it's put in neutral with the engine off and then shifted to neutral, it doesn't sense that. Then after the long tow, or the trip home, it jiggles enough that it's ok.

 

[Don S]

Re: Shut off in gear, Won't restart

Wiggle the handle in neutral. If it starts working, the neutral safety switch may be loose or the switch is slightly out of adjustment (if adjustable)

 

[launboy]

Re: Shut off in gear, Won't restart

That was one of the things we tried when it didn't work yesterday, along with shifting it in fwd, shifting it into reverse, and also pushing the High idle(?) button and moving the lever forward and backward, all to no avail.

Anybody know where the neutral safety switch would be so I could give it a look?