1985 Four Winns 350 Alpha One Shift Interruptor and blown fuse

[redneckgenius]

Hey guys, I purchased a semi project Four Winns over the winter and am in process of getting it water ready. I've had the boat running on a hose in my driveway and it runs good, but shifting into forward or reverse, really grinds. I was looking at shift linkage today and noticed that wire from + coil was unhooked. Hooked it up to white/green wire on interrupter and boat shifted fine. But after shifting, it would kill motor and not start until I unhooked it. I did a little research and got the impression that it was hooked up backwards and needed to run off the - coil. Long story short, i jumped across - coil to green/white on interruptor and immediately killed motor and cant get it to start again. Im guessing i blew a fuse, but cannot find a blown in line fuse anywhere. The motor has a 50 amp breaker on it also, but when i push it in, it doesn't feel tripped. Fuse at ignition switch is not blown either. Am i overlooking something simple or have i got bigger problems? Thanks in advance for help on this.

 

[redneckgenius]

Re: 1985 Four Winns 350 Alpha One Shift Interruptor and blown fuse

Put the multi meter to it today and have good juice to starter. Also discovered that the 90 amp fuse has been removed and orange wire is direct to same post as positive battery cable. The connection on alternator where orange wire ties in is white chalky color. Still researching my next move, but any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Don S]

Re: 1985 Four Winns 350 Alpha One Shift Interruptor and blown fuse

Man, you are way off in how and when the shift interrupt system should work.
Might want to have a look at THIS THREAD to see what goes on.

And here is the wiring diagram. make sure you have the shift interrupt switch wired right.

View attachment 85 57.pdf

 

[redneckgenius]

Re: 1985 Four Winns 350 Alpha One Shift Interruptor and blown fuse

Thank you Don. That definitely makes sense to me and I was a million miles off. Just kind of at a loss now as to getting the motor going again. Am going to continue researching it, but can't help feeling like I did some damage.

 

[Don S]

Re: 1985 Four Winns 350 Alpha One Shift Interruptor and blown fuse

If you don't research correctly, the only thing you are going to get is a bigger head ache and not answers.

The most common problem causing the engine to die is a defective lower shift cable. They fail constantly. If you have 10 years on it, feel lucky if you are in salt water, 15 years if in fresh. Especially if there have been any overheats and the outer covering melted and the outer core is rusty.

Here's a link to download the manual. Couldn't hurt.

 

[redneckgenius]

Re: 1985 Four Winns 350 Alpha One Shift Interruptor and blown fuse

After spending some time in my Seloc manual last nite, I'm leaning towards shift interrupt switch or coil. It did start and run fine until my bad move of hooking - coil to green\white of shift interrupt. Bad weather till weekend, so I'll try again Saturday. Thanks again.