G3 wrote:
In article . net,
Jim wrote:

G3 wrote:

Hi,
I have a 4hp. 4stroke Nissan on my SanJuan21 sailboat. bought this motor
new from Defender Marine last year. not much in the way of service in my
area.
the problem is with the lanyard saftey switch---after cranking this
engine till I was needing a cold beer, I found that this switch is
tempermental and has to be just right before completing the circuit.
not something you want to be jerking around with!
anybody know of a reliable replacement, standard on/off switch? can I
just wire around it? nice motor when it runs.......


I usually pull on the cord un till I need a cold beer, THEN discover I
forgot the safety lanyard. By this time the spark plugs are wet and
need to be dried out before the engine will start.

It's operator error, my safety switch works as it should. Maybe you
should replace the switch with another new, factory replacement. Mine is
not temperamental, if I remember it's there.

All you have to do to "wire around it" is to unplug it. It's the
completed circuit that keeps it from starting. That's the way it was
with my old motor. Try it.

On the back of a San Juan 21 it's not necessary, but on the back of an
inflatable it's a good idea.

yes, it's a kinder, more gentle, pc, world we live in. surprised it
doesn't have a big cage built around the prop or some other kind of
saftey devices. hey, maybe OnStar-- fall in the water, just get on the
cellphone call up and have the boat turn around and come back for you.
hehehehe. what, a big fish pulled you out of the inflatable? must be a
good story. thanks for the reply.

I agree with Jim. I haven't had a problem with my safety switch in
five years. It only kills the engine when the clip is pulled off. It
sounds like you have a defective switch. I don't know for sure, but if
you replace the safety switch with a regular on/off switch, you'll
probably have a problem if you ever get a safety inspection from the
Coast Guard or your local DNR.