Are neutral safety switches universal?

[greg82255]

Hello,

I am looking to purchase a set of Kiekhafer Controls on Ebay - here is the link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...0502482843&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I emailed the seller and he said it does not come with a neutral safety switch. Are neutral safety switches universal? If I buy one from Gaffrig or some other vendor, will it fit in this setup? If not, where would I get one? Also, does anyone know about how old this thing is? This does not appear to be one of Mercury's Zero Effort Controls so it must be whatever came before that. I don't want to buy this thing and find out I can't get any parts for it.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Are neutral safety switches universal?

The "neutral safety" is generally built right in the quadrant. All it does is open the starter circuit so you cannot crank the engine if the control is NOT in neutral.

Some racing controls may not have the switch at all.......(some people like to start in gear!)

Why do you want a split control? Single controls are far easier to use and more universal.


Here's what I put in my 211 Liberator after removing the OMG 460 King Kobra controls....... I just LOVE it.....it shifts like "silk" ! whatever that is!!

Teleflex Morse CH-1700

 

[greg82255]

Re: Are neutral safety switches universal?

The Quicksilver control that I have in my boat now (1986 Formula 206 Spyder) is really run down. It functions fine but the cover is falling off and it has a lot of scratches, and I just really like the look of the dual lever controls - but not enough to spend $410 on a new one from Gaffrig. If some controls don't have a neutral safety switch, can I just connect the 2 wires that run to the switch and bypass it completely? Could this cause any damage if I start it while its in gear? The motor is a 1986 Merc 260/Alpha One

 

[telstar1]

Re: Are neutral safety switches universal?

You can start in gear without hurting anything. Of course you shouldnt be reved up at the time.....Yep just connect the I think yellow red wires together and you can start anytime. Frowned on by some,safer IMO if you know your boating.Foolproof is for fools?etc.

 

[greg82255]

Re: Are neutral safety switches universal?

Alright, thanks for the advice. If I win this auction then I'll just bypass the switch.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Are neutral safety switches universal?

You can start in gear without hurting anything.

Well......I wouldn't say that.......you could hurt SOMEBODY!

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Are neutral safety switches universal?

Not a good idea!!! Can be started in gear and if anyone is in the water by the prop you can make soup.J

 

[greg82255]

Re: Are neutral safety switches universal?

The item on ebay has gone up in price far more than I want to pay for a used item. After thinking about it, I am not worried about forgetting to shift into neutral before I start the motor, but I have some friends that I let drive the boat that will easily forget.. May be best to buy a shifter with a switch.

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Are neutral safety switches universal?

Last year, there was someone hurt when a guy started his boat in gear at a dock. The boat partially jumped up on the dock and knocked a woman into the water. She wasn't seriously hurt but could have been. As with most safety equipment, there's a reason for it being there!

 

[greg82255]

Re: Are neutral safety switches universal?

Wow - not good. I do let people use my boat from time to time so its probably best that there is a safety switch in place. And it's not like I race my 45 mph boat so there's never any need to start it in gear. I just wanted that shifter without the switch, and now that it's too expensive, I'll probably stick with what I have.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Are neutral safety switches universal?

Last year, there was someone hurt when a guy started his boat in gear at a dock. The boat partially jumped up on the dock and knocked a woman into the water. She wasn't seriously hurt but could have been. As with most safety equipment, there's a reason for it being there!

Yeah. and if you DID loan your boat to someone (after disabling a safety feature) and they did kill someone, you would probably find yourself embroiled in a lawsuit for reckless endangerment!

In a world where you can sue for spilling hot coffee on yourself, think how far someone could go with a wrongful death suit as a result of intentionally disabling a safety device!!

 

[greg82255]

Re: Are neutral safety switches universal?

Just to clarify - it was never my intention to start the motor while in gear. I simply wanted to buy a shifter on ebay (link above) that didn't come with a neutral safety switch. My original question was asking if there was a such thing as a universal neutral safety switch that I could install in any shifter, or if there was one specific to this shifter that I would need to find.

 

[greg82255]

Re: Are neutral safety switches universal?

Ok - just a thought. What if in place, I put a push button switch on the dashboard next to the ignition and connect the wires that are supposed to run through the neutral safety switch. That way you have to hold the button down for the starter to engage. Will this work in theory?

EDIT: Just thought about that one.. Nevermind - that does no solve the problem

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Are neutral safety switches universal?

Ok - just a thought. What if in place, I put a push button switch on the dashboard next to the ignition and connect the wires that are supposed to run through the neutral safety switch. That way you have to hold the button down for the starter to engage. Will this work in theory?

Sure. It would "work" just fine............


But, how would that prevent the guy you loan your boat to (or YOU, by accident of course.........!!!) from starting it in gear with the throttle above idle? (think of strangest set of things that could happen, and they WILL happen)..........something called "Murphy's Law"


Believe me, you DO NOT want to bypass or disable a neutral safety switch on any boat............