outboard electrical question
 

I have a 2001 250 johnson and the odd time I try to start it, it won't turn
over. The tach goes through it self test but that's it. I thought it was a
bad solenoid and if I leave the key in the run position and cross the
yellow/red wire (right side small terminal) with the red battery cable
(right side large terminal) the engine will start and run fine and for the
next few day everything will be fine. There is a red/yellow wire at the key
switch end of the harness which is for the neutral safety and I just have
that connected to the switch (there is no safety in this boat, I can start
it in gear) Should I assume the switch is bad and not sending power down the
red/yellow wire to energize the solenoid?

"habbi" wrote in message ...
I have a 2001 250 johnson and the odd time I try to start it, it won't turn
over. The tach goes through it self test but that's it. I thought it was a
bad solenoid and if I leave the key in the run position and cross the
yellow/red wire (right side small terminal) with the red battery cable
(right side large terminal) the engine will start and run fine and for the
next few day everything will be fine. There is a red/yellow wire at the key
switch end of the harness which is for the neutral safety and I just have
that connected to the switch (there is no safety in this boat, I can start
it in gear) Should I assume the switch is bad and not sending power down the
red/yellow wire to energize the solenoid?

if you can start in gear with the switch connected then yes it is
broken. usually they break in the open position. if you are
comfortable with no start in gear protection simply join the 2 wires
connected to the switch together. or do this as a stop gap measure
until you can get another installed.

Maybe I was not clear. I have and want my system to start in gear. I have it
wired so it is bypassing the safety switch. This has nothing to do with my
problem though.

"BenC" wrote in message
om...
"habbi" wrote in message
...
I have a 2001 250 johnson and the odd time I try to start it, it won't
turn
over. The tach goes through it self test but that's it. I thought it was
a
bad solenoid and if I leave the key in the run position and cross the
yellow/red wire (right side small terminal) with the red battery cable
(right side large terminal) the engine will start and run fine and for
the
next few day everything will be fine. There is a red/yellow wire at the
key
switch end of the harness which is for the neutral safety and I just
have
that connected to the switch (there is no safety in this boat, I can
start
it in gear) Should I assume the switch is bad and not sending power down
the
red/yellow wire to energize the solenoid?

if you can start in gear with the switch connected then yes it is
broken. usually they break in the open position. if you are
comfortable with no start in gear protection simply join the 2 wires
connected to the switch together. or do this as a stop gap measure
until you can get another installed.