Bad Ignition Switch

[Outrage 19]

Hay fellas bad news I took my boat out yesterday and after running for about ½ hour I found the ignition switch had stuck in the start position instead of springing back to the run position. When I shut the engine down the starter would not turn, I could here the solenoid click but no starter. It pull started pretty easy, I guess because it was warm. Anyway is there any possibility of the starter back feeling the battery and taking out any parts in the charging circuit?

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Bad Ignition Switch

First, Check the voltage on the battery,If above 12 volts, jump out the starter using the selonoid IN the circuit. In other words, don't bypass the selonoid for this test. If it cranks, replace the switch and you should be good to go. If no cranking, jump directly to the starter from the battery side of the selonoid(Big terminal to Big Terminal). Then if it cranks, replace the selonoid and of course the switch. It is possible that the rectifier got fried somewhere during the process, but check everything else out first. Do you have a tach on the boat and was it still working after you restarted? Was the battery in fact dead when this happened?

 

[Outrage 19]

Re: Bad Ignition Switch

Thanks Rick. Yes the tach was still working when I got it restarted. As for the battery I don’t know since I don’t have a volt meter on the boat but since I always take the battery off the boat I’ll check it when I get home tonight and I’ll do the other tests tomorrow. Thanks again.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Bad Ignition Switch

The reason I asked if the tach was still working, is because this is a good indicator that your system is charging. At least the rectifier is good. Replace the switch, charge the battery , see if it starts and then verify that your system is charging properly. One thing at a time.

 

[Outrage 19]

Re: Bad Ignition Switch

Will do.

 

[Outrage 19]

Re: Bad Ignition Switch

Good news fellas. I did the tests you suggested Rick plus one of my own just to make sure, I connected a volt meter to the small post positive side of the solenoid turned the key to the start position and read 12.4 volts, then to the ground side and turned the key and read 0 volts. It turns out the coil in the starter solenoid burned out. The rectifier checked out according to the test in my Clymer manual. Now I hope I can get the ignition switch to spring back to the run position with just a shot of WD-40, which I forgot and left home yesterday, and all will be good again. Thanks again Rick and I found a Quicksilver VDO voltmeter on Ebay that matches my Tach so I bid on it. If it doesn’t go for a stupid amount of money I should get it and then I’ll be able to keep better tabs on the charging system in the future.