'96 Johnson 130 won't shut down

[kvdsr]

Got it last year, and eventually figured out I had to drain the carbs to get excess oil out of the bowls, and then I hooked it up to fresh-mixed gas, 50:1, even though it has VRO. Figured I'd stay on the safe side.
Sometimes it would crank, sometimes it wouldn't. Strangely enough, when it wouldn't crank and I would test the solenoid for voltage, it would often crank right after that test - but not always.
I hooked up a hose with muffs and got it started, then it wouldn't shut off. I turned the key off, I pulled off the kill switch, I disconnected the battery, I tried pushing the choke in ... the damned thing wouldn't die!! Gagging from the smoky exhaust, I pulled off the fuel line and retreated until it ran out of gas.

I'm not really an outboard mechanic, so I will ask my learned brethren (or sistren?) ... What's going on here??

 

[Chris1956]

Sounds like your wiring is not quite right. The ignition is killed by grounding the black/yellow wire. So when the ign switch is turned off the black ground wire is connected to the black/yellow wire. I would check theign switch for correct function, and clean all the connections to make the motor reliable,

 

[kvdsr]

Thanks Chris, I appreciate the reply.
Is there some source you could recommend that would show me how to disassemble and test the switch?

 

[Chris1956]

The ign switch is can probably not be disassembled. I would make sure the connectors are clean and with the wires removed, check it's function with an ohmmeter.

Off position: M and M post connected.

On Position: M and M not connected. B connected to I

On Position with Choke button pushed: M and M not connected, B connected to I and C

Start Position: M and M not connected, B connected to I and S

Start Position with choke button pushed: M and M not connected, B connected to I and S and C

M post gets Black; M post gets Black/yellow; B post gets Red (or red/purple, whichever you have); I post gets purple; C post gets Yellow/black; S post gets yellow/red

 

[kvdsr]

Story has a happy ending!

I traced the Black/Yellow wire back into the motor and into a "junction box" where it merged with several other wires, went into a plug-in connector, and then exited the junction box. Before I closed the junction box I tightened up all the plug-in connectors inside it, and to my pleasant surprise found out that the B/Y connector was partially loose. Never would have noticed it just by looking. The motor now starts consistently, and TURNS OFF consistently! This pleasant surprise has saved me a lot of time, effort, and money.

Many thanks to Chris 1956 for pointing me in the right direction. You are indeed a Supreme Mariner!