Problem Starting

[Cougfan]

Sorry I am new, looks like I posted this in the wrong spot.

Thanks for the patience.

Edited August 13, 2010 by Cougfan

[martinarcher]

That is the neutral safety switch issue. The starter is disabled until the throttle is set to the neutral position. When the tranny is truly in neutral, the switch contact on the tranny itself enables the starter. The switch has a "ball" that fits into a detent in the tranny's control arm (inside the tranny's housing).

Check out your switch. It is located on the starboard side of the tranny housing (the water intake hose from the thru-hull fitting goes right by it). It is a two wire switch. If you remove the wires from the switch you can remove the switch from the tranny with a socket (unscrews from the tranny housing).

Good luck. Mine can be picky on the neutral location as well, but usually starts without issue. One thing I do if it is being picky. Push the throttle forward slightly out of neutral, turn the key and slowly draw it back through the "neutral zone" until the starter kicks.