76 Chrysler 60hp starter won't engage

[gillie262]

I was trying a couple of different things with my motor to get it to start yesterday and now I have nothing when I turn the key. The battery is full and on a charger saying 100% charged and choke engages but when you turn the key to try and start its just silence. Could this be as simple as a circuit breaker dying? Does anyone have any other suggestions as to how to get it to turn over?

 

[Frank Acampora]

There is a circuit breaker just below the terminal board on the engine. You do need to push the black button to reset it. HOWEVER: My money is on the shift linkage not depressing the white button on the neutral interlock switch. Try cycling the control lever once or twice from forward to reverse and back to neutral. With the cover off, look to see that the shift linkage IS in fact depressing the button.

 

[Nordin]

As Frank say, check the neutral switch. The gear has to be in neutral, if not the switch open the starter Circuit and no power will go to the starter.

 

[gillie262]

Thanks guys, figured it out when I got home last night. Also had a guy come and look at the boat for me and he thinks the magneto may be bad but when it starts to turn over, it automatically engages the propeller so its like it starts in gear even while being in neutral. Any ideas of how to get to not start the propeller when the engine starts?

 

[Frank Acampora]

The question is: Is it really engaged? All lower units have a forward and reverse gear mounted on the propshaft. The pinion is always in mesh with both gears and directly connected to the crankshaft so both gears are constantly turning. Oil in the lower unit is viscous and can provide a drag on the propshaft. Thus: The prop shaft will sometimes turn when the engine is running, even when in neutral. Under these conditions, the prop will turn, but without any real force. However, I would not try to grab it to prove the point.