No start

Discussion in 'Powerboats' started by gritz, Nov 24, 2022.

  1. gritz
    Joined: Nov 2022
    Posts: 3
    Likes: 0, Points: 1
    Location: Virginia

    gritz New Member

    1985 Chris Craft 29’ —- twin 350 Mercruiser inboards — have had boat for 25 years — starboard engine was always hard to find the sweet neutral spot for engaging the starter — now it will not start at all — if I connect the two wires on the neutral start switch together it starts — but no matter where I place the shift lever it will not start (with wires connected)(disconnected shift cables) — replaced the neutral start switch, which made no difference — pretty sure inside the trans it is not pushing on the neutral switch to activate. ANY IDEAS APPRECIATED
     
  2. fallguy
    Joined: Dec 2016
    Posts: 7,596
    Likes: 1,674, Points: 123, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: usa

    fallguy Senior Member

    You need to isolate each segment to determine the cause.

    You ought to be able to use an electric meter to find out where the fault resides.
     
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  3. DogCavalry
    Joined: Sep 2019
    Posts: 3,076
    Likes: 1,570, Points: 113
    Location: Vancouver bc

    DogCavalry Senior Member

    The neutral start safety cutout is probably an electrical switch that goes to the ignition switch, not the outboard. Check for continuity/discontinuity where it enters the ignition switch. Then disassemble the shift/throttle control assembly. They are mechanically somple.
     
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  4. fallguy
    Joined: Dec 2016
    Posts: 7,596
    Likes: 1,674, Points: 123, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: usa

    fallguy Senior Member

    You can basically continuitiy test each side. Most of these systems are normally open. So, in order for the circuit to be complete, each part needs to be closed.

    Once you don't have continuity or you detect an open that won't close; you know which part is bad..
     
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  5. gritz
    Joined: Nov 2022
    Posts: 3
    Likes: 0, Points: 1
    Location: Virginia

    gritz New Member

    If I take the neutral safety switch out of the transmission and press in the ball with my finger everything works as designed— the problem is that the ball does not get pressed in by the transmission part when shifted into neutral —
     
  6. gritz
    Joined: Nov 2022
    Posts: 3
    Likes: 0, Points: 1
    Location: Virginia

    gritz New Member

    This is a inboard - the neutral safety switch is on the transmission —
     
  7. DogCavalry
    Joined: Sep 2019
    Posts: 3,076
    Likes: 1,570, Points: 113
    Location: Vancouver bc

    DogCavalry Senior Member

    Replace your mechanical remote controls with ones that have the neutral safety switch built in. Wire bypass the ones in the transmissions.

    Or add a switch on the console. Be careful.

    Or rewire so both use the switch in the port engine, and again, be careful.
     

  8. kapnD
    Joined: Jan 2003
    Posts: 1,298
    Likes: 412, Points: 83, Legacy Rep: 40
    Location: hawaii, usa

    kapnD Senior Member

    It sounds like you have identified the problem.
    Try swapping the part off the other (working) transmission switch to positively diagnose problem.
     
    Jimboat likes this.
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