55hp Chrysler ignition switch advise.

[gatheringsticks]

Hello I bought a old 1967 ,55hp chrysler battery ignition with alternator style outboard.
The manual shows five wires coming out of the ignition switch(Blue,White,Yellow,Green,Red) then going to the underdash terminal block.
Problem:
I dont have the under dash terminal block.
So I have a total of 8 wires (the ones listed above) plus purple,Black and orange.
The purple,black and orange must be tapped to other colors at the underdash terminal block.
The service manual has a diagram and not a schematic so I don't know where to place the wires on the start switch.
At the engine terminal block:
The orange goes to the temp sender
The Black goes to the ground.
The purple goes to GEN.
So they all have a job and I just need to know where to put them on the key ignition switch.
switch has Blue to I,white to M,yellow to S,green to C,red to B
I Need a home for purple,black and orange.
Its dark out right now so I cant take good pictures.
I may post some pix up tomorrow if it helps explain my dilemma.
help most appreciated.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: 55hp Chrysler ignition switch advise.

Purple is not used, just terminate it on an unused terminal. Black is a common ground, use it for any needed ground under the dash. Orange is indeed overheat or temp gauge. Attach one leg of the overheat indicator to orange and the other wire to the "I" terminal on the switch or on the terminal block ( if you install one).

 

[fucawi]

Re: 55hp Chrysler ignition switch advise.

you dont make it clear if you are re wiring a switch or just want to know about the 3 wires....its worth noting that the igniton switches for battery igniton and magneto are different ..The battery igniton tpe just switches off the igniton supply to stop the engine whilst the magneto style switch shorts out the igniton . The two are not interchangable...dont leave the igniton ON without the engine running or the coils get very hot and the casing can crack ...send for the epoxy !
you might like to look at http://www.boatfix.com/how/switch.html

 

[gatheringsticks]

Re: 55hp Chrysler ignition switch advise.

Q:will an unused terminal on the switch get electricity if I hook purple to it?
Q: so I dont have to hook black up to the switch at all? I have no lights or any stuff other than the engine to run.
Ok I will hook up orange to the"I" because I do have a temp sender.
thanks very much..this forum is a life saver.

 

[gatheringsticks]

Re: 55hp Chrysler ignition switch advise.

sorry...yes I'm rewiring a switch that was there but not wired entirely correctly from what I have read here.
I have the battery / alternator / starter set-up.
thx.

 

[fucawi]

Re: 55hp Chrysler ignition switch advise.

you only need three wires to run it ...B for battery + 12v I .. ignition goes to the coils and S for starter solenoid. C for electric choke if you have one. The over heat buzzer goes from the wire on the sensor in the block to the buzzer then buzzer to ligniton live . Often the buzzer is under the dash .You will find the output from the alternator goes via the thick battery cable to charge the battery. You dont have to use all the terminals on the switch or all the wires on the terminal block eg tacho If you have no choke or buzzer its only 3 wires. No black or ground on the switch ...

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: 55hp Chrysler ignition switch advise.

Sorry! I meant terminate the purple on an unused terminal of a terminal block if you install one. You can also simply tape the end. Thing is, if you attach it at the engine end terminal, it will have A/C potential from the rectifier (for tachometer signal--but not on your engine) so you don't want it flopping freely under the dash.

The two "M" terminals on the switch never have power. They are in continuity when the switch is off and open when the switch is on. As Fucawi said, they are used to ground the points on MAGNETO ignitions and stop the engine. They are not used with battery ignition systems.

 

[fucawi]

Re: 55hp Chrysler ignition switch advise.

I might be Wrong frank but I thought the battery igniton switch and the magneto switch were different ...the battery one not having M M so not usable with a magneto ..just a point of detail. Perhaps you have universal ones in the US but I have two distinct types here in the UK

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: 55hp Chrysler ignition switch advise.

I have seen the other type switches on some older engines but they are not very common on larger Chrysler and Force engines. My friend did have an OMC with that switch and a separate lever switch for choke and start. Very complex, you needed to move three different switches to start. The guy who wired it probably knew very little about wiring or wanted to make the dash look like an airplne dash with lots of levers and things to touch.

Most of the stock Chrysler switches were the six terminal type with two "M" terminals. Older ones were labeled "I" for ignition on the powered terminal but newer ones were labeled "A" for accessory because the electronic ignitions were not powered from the battery. I think you can still buy the four terminal switches right here on iboats.

 

[gatheringsticks]

Re: 55hp Chrysler ignition switch advise.

I have seen the other type switches on some older engines but they are not very common on larger Chrysler and Force engines. My friend did have an OMC with that switch and a separate lever switch for choke and start. Very complex, you needed to move three different switches to start. The guy who wired it probably knew very little about wiring or wanted to make the dash look like an airplne dash with lots of levers and things to touch.

Most of the stock Chrysler switches were the six terminal type with two "M" terminals. Older ones were labeled "I" for ignition on the powered terminal but newer ones were labeled "A" for accessory because the electronic ignitions were not powered from the battery. I think you can still buy the four terminal switches right here on iboats.

thanks...engine is now running.
Only on one cylinder but its progress.
Orange was not attached to the ING. As you advised I hooked it up and I have spark.
Because I have spark on one cylinder can I rule out the alternator(stator) ?
planning to check the points,condenser,coil, plug wire,spark plug related to the non sparking cylinder.
I will post updates as I know others as I have
learn from reading these.

 

[gatheringsticks]

Re: 55hp Chrysler ignition switch advise.

Its running now as per your and franks advise.
wow...thought it was never going to start so I'm very happy.
Just have to find the problem why I only have spark on one cylinder.
I will post updates.

 

[fucawi]

Re: 55hp Chrysler ignition switch advise.

Do you have a live feed to both coils? It starts and runs on the battery ..alternator not required to make it run. Check connections inside the plug caps ...to remove flywheel big bar under one side ..loosen centre nut a few turns ..pressure on bar and wack the nut with a 4 lb hammer ...check the keyway very carefully I have a two part one on mine so if the flywheel slips it still keeps going ...flywheel slips ..timing ring slips ..it stops