kill switch ???

[snuffy45]

just bought 1987 Lowe pontoon, has Johnson 48 spl. need to know how to check kill switch. doesn't have a lanyard on it so button is in out position, motor runs fine. entering fish tournament for local rescue squad and kill switch has to be attached to life vest and working. have another set of controls that came with boat, OMC side mount. it had lanyard on it so I put it on mine, now wondering how to tell if it works without having to go to lake just to try. #1 is it normal for motor to run with lanyard removed? or does this say switch is bad? #2 can I test with test light at home and how? do I have to disassemble the control to test? any help will be deeply appreciated. been reading others questions and get differernt answers depending on motor type and size. thought it might be easier to install seperate switch of some kind which ever is easiest and works. thanks

 

[BMOLCHANY]

Re: kill switch ???

If the switch is off and the engine runs its pretty much a no brainer that it is a bad switch.

 

[dingbat]

Re: kill switch ???

If the switch is off and the engine runs its pretty much a no brainer that it is a bad switch.

Or its been "jumped" out like mine.
I don't own a clip. Has always worked with one.

 

[BMOLCHANY]

Re: kill switch ???

Anything is possible. Do what you have to do to take a look at the back of it if that happens.

 

[snuffy45]

Re: kill switch ???

so I guess I'm taking the control apart to see if it has been "jumped"??I've read on here that some will still start and run after lanyard has been pulled off to allow someone else to restart boat and circle around and pick you up if thrown overboard. thats why the no-brainer question was how to test.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: kill switch ???

ON and OFF on a kill switch for a two stroke engine is a matter of how you view it. OFF in electrical terms means the switch contacts are open. ON means the contacts are closed. The kill switch therefore must be OPEN (OFF) for the engine to run and CLOSED (ON) to kill the engine. When the contacts close, the ignition is shorted to ground to kill a two stroke engine. I/O engines which are basically auto engines have a coil ignition system and the kill switch works exactly opposite. If the ignition system is OPEN (OFF) the engine will not run because there is no voltage to the ignition. The engine runs when then kill switch is CLOSED (ON). If the button on your kill switch is in the OUT (OPEN) position that is the normal run position. Pulling the lanyard should allow the clip to be pulled and the button snaps IN to CLOSE (ON) the switch which would kill the engine. Something is wrong with the switch if the button is out with no lanyard attached. Perhaps you have not noticed the clip and only the cord itself is missing.

 

[snuffy45]

Re: kill switch ???

I have the entire lanyard clip and all. on mine the button is out and motor runs, when I put lanyard on it it holds the button in, when pulled off button pops out. it is that way on both sets of controls that I have, would like to test if maybe the one on boat is bad since it runs with button out, but as stated some have said they will still start with lanyard removed and button out.

 

[BMOLCHANY]

Re: kill switch ???

Silvertip thanks for clairifying that for me. I am at work and did not have time to type all of that.

 

[dingbat]

Re: kill switch ???

My Rude manual states:

IMPORTANT: The emergency stop switch turns the key from on to off. It does not electronically disarm the ignition system.

The key switch, ignition switch, and starting circuits are fully functional after the emergency stop switch clip has been removed.

 

[snuffy45]

Re: kill switch ???

thank you dingbat for the definate answer that it will still start and run with lanyard pulled off. is there a way to test with test light before going to water?

 

[dingbat]

Re: kill switch ???

It sounds like a mechanical function. Why not start it on muffs and pull the clip?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: kill switch ???

Huh? If the ignition system is not disarmed, how does the kill switch kill the engine? There are several different types of kill switch arrangements including those that are integral with the key switch. If the key switch is physically turned from RUN to OFF, that is performing the exact same function as shorting the two "M" terminals on the ignition switch. The description I gave was for a separate kill switch. On most of those the clip either holds the button in or it holds the button out. Either way, pulling the clip closes the contacts and the two "M" terminals on the key switch (the ignition circuit) are shorted to ground thus killing the engine.

 

[rndn]

Re: kill switch ???

The "kill switch" on my 96 Evinrude 130 just allows the ignition switch to go to the off easily. Such as a big wave or something the sudden jarring will cause the switch to fall into the off position. I know this because I had the Evinrude shop look at mine because I thought it wasn't working because if you pull the lanyard off of the ignition switch the motor still runs. The service manager told me that Evinrude was having issues if someone falls out of the boat with the lanyard then if anyone is left on the boat they can't start the motor to get back to the person who fell out.
As Silvertip stated though this is just for the ignition switch mounted lanyard. He also stated that it was not called an ignition kill switch but something else and unfortunately my memory is not what it used to be.

 

[dingbat]

Re: kill switch ???

Huh? If the ignition system is not disarmed, how does the kill switch kill the engine?

A combination key switch and emergency stop switch is connected to the power pack through the engine wiring harness. When activated, these switches direct the power pack output to ground stopping the ignition system.

Maybe there be logic in the power pack that momentarily shuts down the current to the ignition system and then automatically resets the power pack?

Perhaps the live circuit caution is to avoid confusion with the typical your emergency stop functions where you have to manually rest the system to run?

 

[snuffy45]

Re: kill switch ???

took it out today to try it and pulled lanyard off 3 times, at idle, half throttle, and WTO, no results, kept running, so now I guess I take my control apart to see what switch looks like. I took the spare control apart just to see what all was involved so I guess I'll swap switches and go try again. or figure out how to wire a switch into it myself. it's OMC side mount control. key in rear lanyard on side, holds button IN. no boby around here( where I live) seems to worry to much about it they have theirs unhooked, cross wired or just don't use it, why?? I don't know, personally think it's a good thing and have always believed if it's on there it ought to work!! wish me luck, it's all new to me.