walshie Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 I've got a pull-start outboard on the back of my boat. Before it will start, you have to flick a little on-off switch on the dash. Now this doesn't seem to go via a battery, so I don't really know what it can be for. I tried to change the switch today for a better waterproof one, and once I'd got the miles of tape off the connection, it has 3 wires going into 3 separate pins, but the actual switch is only 2 way, not 3. Can someone please explain in very short words what's going on there? Ta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 Could it be an earth switch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wisdom Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 More than likely it either earth's the low tension side of the ignition or interrupts the power to the coil.What outboard is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted June 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 I have no idea. Electrics aren't my thing. More than likely it either earth's the low tension side of the ignition or interrupts the power to the coil.What outboard is it? It's an old Evinrude 2-stroke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 (edited) It will be a switch to interrupt the power to the coil or from the coil to earth. Does it have just one coil? Edited June 20, 2016 by Gordon R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodp Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 It will be a switch to interrupt the power to the coil or from the coil to earth. Does it have just one coil? If two it will be a double pole switch ... yes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted June 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 I don't know how many coils it has. i'll check it next time I'm there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodp Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 Is it a double pole switch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted June 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 None of this means anything to me. The engine is a twin cylinder 2-stroke. The switch has only 2 positions, up or down. the back of the switch has 3 connectors and there are 3 separate wires connected to these. The wire wends it way round the boat and into the outboard. Other than that, i know nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wascal Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 sound like a basic ignition switch where does your kill cord connect ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalahari Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 Sounds like it will short out each coil when closed. Probably has one coil per cylinder. David. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodp Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 Sounds like it will short out each coil when closed. Probably has one coil per cylinder. David. That's what I thought, but surely it would have to be a double pole switch with a link wire across two terminals? If you had two coils connected together by the earth wire at switch it would effectively earth the coils out when it was supposed to be in "run" , yes, no? Walshie, do two wires join at the switch? If not, how many terminals on the switch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodp Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 (edited) Ah, just re-read the post, three terminals, two from coils and one to earth possibly? Is there such a switch that bridges two separate terminals but leaves them open when "on". Mind you, this is OMC, a vast company so a special switch would be nothing to them, except more money when selling them Edited June 20, 2016 by rodp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted June 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 Just taken this pic. 2 wires are black and one is black with a greeny/yellow stripe. Switch has only 2 positions though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalahari Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 Plastic boats are rotten earths so I guess it shorts two coils back to the motor chassis. David. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodp Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 Right, what hp and what year is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted June 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 45hp and no idea how old it is. 90s probably. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkfanz Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 usually cut off switches just run the current to ground to kill the motor,at least mine did but they were yamaha and mercury i assume they all do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodp Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 45 hp pull start? sure it's not 4.5hp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted June 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 Definitely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodp Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 Searched these but only one rope start and that's 40hp. They all use two wires to kill switch. I'll keep looking http://www.maxrules.com/JOwireindex.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodp Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 Right, apparently black and yellow is kill wire, other side of switch should go to earth. Not a clue why three wires though, all diagrams show two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted June 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 It's one of these I think. https://www.marineengine.com/parts/johnson-evinrude-parts.php?year=1994&hp=45 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted June 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 So logically if the switch is turned towards the black/yellow, that's when the engine won't run, and away from it will allow it to run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted June 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 I'll just get a 3 pin one and cross my fingers. Thanks everyone for your efforts to help out a dummy. Especially rodp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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