[Homemadeboatowner]

I have a 62' Evinrude Selectric Lark IV and it starts up fine and i just recently replaced the control cable and now it idles fine when it starts up. However when i go to turn off the ignition it just stays on. I can take the key out and everything still runs. IS there a wire that isnt working right. I dont know much about outboards and this is my first boat. I need to be able to turn off the engine without having to choke it. How should i go about troubleshooting this? Ive read a little and the color wires that i have coming from my ignition are not standard. I have a red, blue, black and gray. What should i do at this point to try and diagnose a problem. Is there a work around i could try. Like putting in a kill switch somewhere? Please advise. Thank you

[Paul Moir]

Welcome to Iboats, Homemadeboatowner!You're going to have do do some tracing. The kill switch circuit works by connecting the two points in the outboard's ignition system together, which shorts both them out and kills spark. The wires are the two small black ones comeing from up underneath the flywheel, and should ultimately connect to the two terminals labled "M" on the keyswitch. Unless you have the wrong keyswitch.Along the way there's a few splices where they connect into the vaccum cutout switch and a few disconnects. Here's some schematics:40hp schematic: http://www.shareaproject.com/fullImages/2627.jpg Here's a 28hp schematic I drew. It's a little more clear around the ignition switch: http://www.files.bz/files/3414/28schematic.PDF Once you confirm all the wiring is in place and connected properly, try manually shorting the two magneto leads together at the keyswitch to determine if the keyswitch itself is bad. Careful though, with the engine running those lines bite.Never ever let +12v on those wires. The battery electrical system has absolutely nothing to do with the ignition system.Hope that helps!

[Homemadeboatowner]

Paul, Thank you so much for this information. It is exactly what i was looking for! I will troubleshoot this tonight and will let you know how it turned out. Sorry i didnt post it was the 40hp but luckily i got someone who covered all basis. Thanks again!