....I'm having the EXACT same issue.

[surfsalterpath]

....I'm having the EXACT same issue. When turning the 'ignition key' sometimes it used to be a delay before the engine would turn over. Now it's hit or miss, most of the time miss and NO response when turning the key. So I've followed all the same 'tests' and all tests point back to the "NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH" located in my mercury "REMOTE CONTROL BOX"
Either I have a break in the 'yellow/red' wire or the actual "NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH" has gone bad. I too am confused which wire to hook together to "BYPASS" the "NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH." My boat mechanic, by phone, mentioned something about the purple wire on the 'ignition switch.'

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... In my experience, most controllers, will only have 2 wires of the Same Color, be it pale blue, or yellow/ red, that are the neutral safety switch,...

If ya got trim in the controller, that'll complicate things abit with more wires, but I believe to 2 of 1 color holds true,....

Have ya cleaned All the connections at the pump to Shiny metal Clean yet,..??

I started a thread for ya, so's to not add more confusion to the jorgeolivia's thread,....

 

[surfsalterpath]

....Thanks dude!~ I wondered what happened to my post in that thread. Sorry, I did not mean to confuse. I think I figured it out. Simple but time consuming nonetheless!!

I just had the EXACT same thing happen! After all the solenoid and stator and safety switch and ignition switch investigation I found improper connector(s) some genius 'boat mechanic' installed on the yellow/red wires going to the "NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH" in the "REMOTE CONTROL BOX." Over time the female spade connector which had been squeezed down on 'bare wire' to make the joint----imagine that------ had deteriorated. Now she starts like a kitten. Not bad for a 1996 75hp FORCE 2 stroke. And a neophyte wanna be real boat mechanic (just to save $$$$ and be able to do it right the 1st time) to figure this puzzle out....huh?

Now...on to figure out WHY my steering is so tough!???! Looks like the same dude that wired those yellow/red wires together threaded the steering cable through an opening too early to allow....."a gradual bend" in the steering cable. Gonna fix this too!!"


Bondo, you have any suggestions on the better of all replacement outboard motor steering, 75hp Force 1996, kits I should consider. The boat is a 1996 Brunswick 25' pontoon. I think I've narrowed the choice down to the NFB rotary or the rackNpinion kit. Rotary's on there now and whoever threaded the steering cable must have been smoking crack.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...A30X6C7XOKV1O1
or
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

 

[Bondo]

Rotary's on there now and whoever threaded the steering cable must have been smoking crack.

Ayuh,..... In my experiences, if it's rotary now, a rack won;t fit in the available space,....

So,.... My advice is to replace what's there, with a fresh copy of the same,....

 

[surfsalterpath]

....what about hydraulic ?

 

[GA_Boater]

....what about hydraulic ?

Too expensive and overkill for a 75 horse motor.

Before you go buying new steering, disconnect the cable at the motor and see if 1) the motor swivels from side to side easily and 2) the steering wheel turns easily from lock to lock.

The swivel can be greased if it's tight and if the wheel is notchy or stiff, what Bondo said, throw in a new system.

 

[surfsalterpath]

....to replace the mechanical steering have to remove the engine. That's a bummer! Still researching.

 

[Bondo]

Bondo, you have any suggestions on the better of all replacement outboard motor steering, 75hp Force 1996,

Ayuh,..... Movin' this again, to the steerin', 'n control forum,....

 

[surfsalterpath]

No Title

......after several days of cleaning up the transom area of too long of engine mount bolts and extraneous engine bracket projections finished mounting the uFlex hydraulic cylinder for hydraulic steering I'm installing. main reason I chose this is because I sure did NOT want to remove the engine to replace the wrongly threaded since 1996 steering cable which made steering NO FUN! Below is a pic of the next to last effort. Had to move the hydraulic cylinder link arm mount from the top of the engine tiller tab to underneath. Called uFlex and talked with Mike and said yea, go to underneath with the link arm connection. Yes, it worked.

The hydraulic cables and the new Remote Control Box go on this weekend.