ignition wiring

[adamkat22]

i'm troubleshooting many electrical bugs. its a 70's houseboat with a VP 280 and a GM350. Seems like a few generations of wiring. Right now I'm working on the ignition. Last season I got two turns out of the ignition (heard the starter bump but never turned over) and then it never worked again. Would just short at the starter with a screw driver to start it. This season same thing. First two times I turned the key i heard the starter bump..but not fully turn over. Now there is nothing, but with the key in the "run" position I can short the starter with a screw driver to get the engine to turn over.

Is there a neutral safety switch on here? If so where is it, or how do I temporarily bypass it just to see if that's the problem? Any other tests I can do or ideas you all have?

FYI, at the starter I have an orange wire on "batt". 2 purple wires on "ignition" and a white wire to "solenoid".

 

[alldodge]

There is a start relay (some call slave relay) on top the motor. When the key is turned to start it energizes a relay on the motor which sends power to the starter solenoid. Its probably going to look like one of these, or a square plastic cube

 

[adamkat22]

Hmm. I don't see anything like that. There is a little breaker on top of the engine block with a 40a breaker on it (like the kind you would see on a table saw sometimes).
Would that be it? There isn't a neutral safety switch on these?

 

[alldodge]

40a breaker on it (like the kind you would see on a table saw sometimes

No that's not it, try to follow the wires coming from the start to it. Look for the color wires

 

[adamkat22]

I traced the wire from the solenoid on the starter all the way to the ignition, but never found a relay or a nuetral safety switch. I was able to see everywhere except in the long wire chase that runs the length of the boat. Pulled a new wire and it works. I assume it was damaged by a mouse or something, somewhere in the chase

 

[alldodge]

Good to know the new wire has fixed the issue
Don't know your exact model but found one where the starter slave relay combo, relay on top the starter solenoid