Force 85hp electrical question

[undry11]

I have just bought a boat with an 85hp force outboard. The harness is cut off and the ignition switch is missing. When I was buying it the guy touched some of the wires together to start it. I would like to start it and check if the shift is working before I make the trip to the dealer to get the switch. Does anybody know which wires I have to touch together to start it? I have figured how to tilt the motor, but still can’t figure how to start it.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Force 85hp electrical question

Welcome to iboats.<br /><br />I'm afraid that depends on the model year. Older Forces use the Chrysler colors. Newer ones use Mercury colors. If you look under the hood, you might see a block where the wires connect from the harness to the motor. There should be a label that tells which wire goes where and it's function. That's if it uses a Force or Morse control. If it uses a Mercury control, the block and label won't be there. Everything will connect with a big plug and socket.<br /><br />In the case of a Merc control:<br /><br />Red=(B)attery<br />Purple=(I)gnition or (A)ccessory<br />Yellow w/ Black stripe=(C)hoke<br />Black w/ yellow stripe=(M)agneto (kill wire)<br />Black=(M)agneto (ground wire)<br /><br />Letters in ( ) should be on the switch. The wires that go to the M's don't matter which to which.

 

[undry11]

Re: Force 85hp electrical question

Thanks WillyBWright. I do have a manual with the wiring diagram, so I basically know which wire goes where. There are 8 wires. Only Blue, Green, Yellow, Red, White, and Red/Blue are supposed to be hooked up to the ignition switch. Now which ones come in contact with each other when the ignition switch is turned on to start the motor? Is it 2 or more that need to come in contact with each other at the same time? I would assume that it is the Red one with the Yellow, but I’ve tried that and it didn’t work. I can’t tell if the gear is in neutral or not, cause the shift controls aren’t hooked up to the control box. That’s another thing I have to figure – if the box is going to work with the cables. The lever for the gears (at the motor) is moving back and forth a little, when I do it with my hand. It is clicking some switch on and off, but the switch won’t stay depressed. It springs back when I let the gear lever go. (Does the switch need to stay on, in order to fire up the motor?) I don’t hear or feel any gear shifting when I move the lever. How can I tell if it’s in neutral? I appreciate your help very much.

 

[undry11]

Re: Force 85hp electrical question

Here is the diagram, if you have the time to look at it and see if you can help me. Thanks.

 

[undry11]

Re: Force 85hp electrical question

OK, I’ve figured it out. I noticed that the shift control cable was preventing the gears from shifting. They needed some adjustment, and so did the switch position. By the way, it started, and it was the red wire with the yellow one. Thanks for help anyway.