I have a small Johnson J3R (3.5hp) outboard that we use regularly on a small
dinghy. It was purchased brand new, from a dealer, about 3 months ago.

It suddenly occurred to me that should I fall off the side then I would
probably finish up in the water watching the kids disappear up the river
........

The outboard doesn't come with any kill cord fitted :-

1. Should it have had one fitted under current law? It has been suggested
to me that this is true.

2. How easy will it be to fit one?

Thanks in advance .....

"Steve H" wrote in message
...
I have a small Johnson J3R (3.5hp) outboard that we use regularly on a
small
dinghy. It was purchased brand new, from a dealer, about 3 months ago.

It suddenly occurred to me that should I fall off the side then I would
probably finish up in the water watching the kids disappear up the river
.......

The outboard doesn't come with any kill cord fitted :-

1. Should it have had one fitted under current law? It has been suggested
to me that this is true.

2. How easy will it be to fit one?

Thanks in advance .....

You are certainly not obligated (by law) to "upgrade" it to have a lanyard
kill switch, but there is no doubt, it is a great safety feature.

You could add one pretty easy I would think...the switch itself I've seen
for about $19.00. You would have to wire it into the ignition...preferably
on the hot (+) coil side.

Good luck.


--
-Netsock

"It's just about going fast...that's all..."
http://home.insight.rr.com/cgreen/

"Steve H" wrote in message
...
I have a small Johnson J3R (3.5hp) outboard that we use regularly on a
small
dinghy. It was purchased brand new, from a dealer, about 3 months ago.

It suddenly occurred to me that should I fall off the side then I would
probably finish up in the water watching the kids disappear up the river
.......

The outboard doesn't come with any kill cord fitted :-

1. Should it have had one fitted under current law? It has been suggested
to me that this is true.

2. How easy will it be to fit one?

Thanks in advance .....



How old are the kids. If at all possible teach them to drive the boat
and how to get back to you should you fall over. It's amazing what
little people can do when they need to. And their brains will come
in more handy than any dumb switch will. ~ Not to say a switch
isn't a good idea too.

Yep - have already done this. But want the cord just to make sure.

Local dealer has quoted £120 + labour to replace the STOP switch with the
kill cord type assembly. Seems just a *little* high to me!

Steve

"Gary Warner" wrote in message
...

"Steve H" wrote in message
...
I have a small Johnson J3R (3.5hp) outboard that we use regularly on a
small
dinghy. It was purchased brand new, from a dealer, about 3 months ago.

It suddenly occurred to me that should I fall off the side then I would
probably finish up in the water watching the kids disappear up the river
.......

The outboard doesn't come with any kill cord fitted :-

1. Should it have had one fitted under current law? It has been
suggested
to me that this is true.

2. How easy will it be to fit one?

Thanks in advance .....



How old are the kids. If at all possible teach them to drive the boat
and how to get back to you should you fall over. It's amazing what
little people can do when they need to. And their brains will come
in more handy than any dumb switch will. ~ Not to say a switch
isn't a good idea too.

£120 sounds extremely high for switch! My yamaha 4 stroke just has a switch
that is held open (closed?) by the kill cord. Most any electronics shop
could get you a sping loaded switch to wire in.
Bill

"Steve H" wrote in message
...
Yep - have already done this. But want the cord just to make sure.

Local dealer has quoted £120 + labour to replace the STOP switch with the
kill cord type assembly. Seems just a *little* high to me!

Steve

"Gary Warner" wrote in message
...

"Steve H" wrote in message
...
I have a small Johnson J3R (3.5hp) outboard that we use regularly on a
small
dinghy. It was purchased brand new, from a dealer, about 3 months
ago.

It suddenly occurred to me that should I fall off the side then I
would
probably finish up in the water watching the kids disappear up the
river
.......

The outboard doesn't come with any kill cord fitted :-

1. Should it have had one fitted under current law? It has been
suggested
to me that this is true.

2. How easy will it be to fit one?

Thanks in advance .....



How old are the kids. If at all possible teach them to drive the boat
and how to get back to you should you fall over. It's amazing what
little people can do when they need to. And their brains will come
in more handy than any dumb switch will. ~ Not to say a switch
isn't a good idea too.

Agreed.

I can source a suitable switch locally for £8. I will have a look later to
assess if it will be easy enough to fit - I suspect it will.

I just need to wait for the rain to stop so I can get outside with drowning
......

Steve
(Maldon, Essex)

"Calif Bill" wrote in message
nk.net...
£120 sounds extremely high for switch! My yamaha 4 stroke just has a
switch
that is held open (closed?) by the kill cord. Most any electronics shop
could get you a sping loaded switch to wire in.
Bill

"Steve H" wrote in message
...
Yep - have already done this. But want the cord just to make sure.

Local dealer has quoted £120 + labour to replace the STOP switch with
the
kill cord type assembly. Seems just a *little* high to me!

Steve

"Gary Warner" wrote in message
...

"Steve H" wrote in message
...
I have a small Johnson J3R (3.5hp) outboard that we use regularly on
a
small
dinghy. It was purchased brand new, from a dealer, about 3 months
ago.

It suddenly occurred to me that should I fall off the side then I
would
probably finish up in the water watching the kids disappear up the
river
.......

The outboard doesn't come with any kill cord fitted :-

1. Should it have had one fitted under current law? It has been
suggested
to me that this is true.

2. How easy will it be to fit one?

Thanks in advance .....



How old are the kids. If at all possible teach them to drive the boat
and how to get back to you should you fall over. It's amazing what
little people can do when they need to. And their brains will come
in more handy than any dumb switch will. ~ Not to say a switch
isn't a good idea too.

Wonder if a line from the spark plug wire to your belt would serve as a kill
cord. I *THINK* the plug is exposed in such a small engine. Just make sure
the line is long enough so that it doesn't pull you into the prop.


"Steve H" wrote in message
...
I have a small Johnson J3R (3.5hp) outboard that we use regularly on a
small
dinghy. It was purchased brand new, from a dealer, about 3 months ago.

It suddenly occurred to me that should I fall off the side then I would
probably finish up in the water watching the kids disappear up the river
.......

The outboard doesn't come with any kill cord fitted :-

1. Should it have had one fitted under current law? It has been suggested
to me that this is true.

2. How easy will it be to fit one?

Thanks in advance .....

"Steve H" wrote in message ...
I have a small Johnson J3R (3.5hp) outboard that we use regularly on a small
dinghy. It was purchased brand new, from a dealer, about 3 months ago.

It suddenly occurred to me that should I fall off the side then I would
probably finish up in the water watching the kids disappear up the river
.......

The outboard doesn't come with any kill cord fitted :-

1. Should it have had one fitted under current law? It has been suggested
to me that this is true.

2. How easy will it be to fit one?

Thanks in advance .....

We used to rig up kill switches on dirt bikes using an old set of
points from a car distributer.A piece of milk jug plastic was inserted
between the points. A piece of string was tied to the plastic and then
to our wrists.When we fell off the bike and jerked out the plastic,
the points closed and grounded out the engine.

Now fixed.

Bought a suitable switch, complete with wrist cord for £7.50 from my local
chandlery store. Another £2 or so for the appropriate electrical connectors
and 15 mins of work and it's done.

£9.50 was just a little cheaper than the £150 it would have cost me through
the dealer that sold me the engine.

Steve