On Tue, 17 Feb 2004 18:17:08 GMT, "Ed Barchetta"
wrote:

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
.. .

Here's a couple of suggestions, although these might not be the
answer.

Check the wire along it's route for abrasion, cracked insulation, etc.
You might also want your mechanic to test the coil. Pull the tach and
try it on another engine. I would suspect either the tach itself or a
short somewhere along the wiring route.

I've already eliminated the coil from the equation so it's between the coil
and the throttle. The visible wiring looks good with no cracks. I'll have to
get into the throttle area to examine the connections/wire.

I'm not familiar with the throttle system you use, but I have worked
on a similar age Merc throttle control and I believe the tach wire,
along with temp sensor, oil pressure etc., went to a connector block
and then to the instruments. Pull the connector apart and check for
corrosion, shorts, etc.

I can't remember what my guy called it but the 'switch' inside the throttle
area that stops you from being able to go into gear while the rpm's are too
high may be related. By disconnecting that system at the coil, we run ok,
although after any length of high speed run (25 mph and 3500 rpm), I have to
slow to trolling speed for about a minute before I can get it back into
neutral or manuever into a dock.

Neutral safety switch - somebody mentioned that and it certainly could
be the answer. And, as it happens, I can answer that.

It's not hard to get to - you have to remove the control from where it
is mounted to get behind it, then, and this may vary a little, remove
the rear/front cover - it may be a reed switch or contact switch -
again, I'm not sure of what kind of switch. It will be on or near a
cam located on the throttle arm pivot point. It could be inboard in
the throttle control body - the one I worked on was located there, but
I replaced the control with one that was on the outside.

I'm guessing here, but you may not be able to get a new switch. I
have worked on one of these for somebody in the family who had a merc
controller of the same vintage and while I could modify one to work,
it wasn't very good repair. You may have to consider a new control.
Hopefully not.

Out of curiosity, do you have to search for neutral when shifting in
and out of gear? If so, it may be more than just the switch in the
throttle.

Good luck.

Later,

Tom
S. Woodstock, CT
----------

"Fisherman are born honest, but they get
over it." - Ed Zern