Interupter switch Question

[Nebfarmer]

Newbie here and I'm a farmer not a boat mechanic. OMC Cobra on a 5.0 in a 89 bayliner. When I manually actuate the interupter switch shouldn't it kill the engine? TIA

 

[cr2k]

Re: Interupter switch Question

Which switch? The main one between the cables or the override sw further forward? With the boat in gear the override should be on a cam and will override the interupter sw.

It's all designed to blow your mind.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Interupter switch Question

When the switch does activate it should not kill the engine if it's in good tune only cause
intermittant loss of ignition.

 

[Nebfarmer]

Re: Interupter switch Question

The interupter, not the overide, When the shifter is in the neutral position and neither switch is activated, if I manually, with a screwdriver , shouldn't it kill or at least cause the engine to pause? The overide should allow the ignition to regain power after the shift is completed. At least that's how I think it should work, I'm just not getting the pause. Don't think I have ever had it. Great site, thanks for the input.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Interupter switch Question

When the switch does activate it should not kill the engine if it's in good tune only cause
intermittant loss of ignition.

Um, if it's a standard shift interrupt switch it grounds out the coil. So activating it will in fact kill the engine. The only reason it's intermittent when shifting is that as soon as the engine "stumbles" the gears disengage and release the switch right away.

On my boat pressing the switch (located at the back of the engine, attached to a bracket that is also where the ends of the upper/lower shift cables go) does the same thing as grounding out the coil... the engine kills.

Erik

 

[gdombroski]

Re: Interupter switch Question

I assume you are talking about the ESA (shift assist) module located on the rear starboard engine side. If so check your connections. Pull apart the 2 & 4 pin connectors, make sure black ground is tight and grey wire is attached to negative coil side. Why you move the switch (can use your hand) it should cause the engine to momentary stumble by only allowing half of the cylinders to fire. If it doesn't then your ESA is dead. You need to get a new one as it will eat your gears up without it. Also, make sure idle in gear is set at 650-700 rpm.

If its dead, does your distributor have points or an electronic (Pertronix-like) setup. If latter, that might have caused the ESA to fail and you will need to do other things to keep from burning up the new one.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Interupter switch Question

Um, if it's a standard shift interrupt switch it grounds out the coil. So activating it will in fact kill the engine. The only reason it's intermittent when shifting is that as soon as the engine "stumbles" the gears disengage and release the switch right away.

On my boat pressing the switch (located at the back of the engine, attached to a bracket that is also where the ends of the upper/lower shift cables go) does the same thing as grounding out the coil... the engine kills.

Erik

The switch triggers the ESA module which pulses the ignition circuit by intermittantly grounding the distributor side of the coil, an engine in optimum tune and functioning ESA will not stall.