I think my neutral safety switch is acting up / need adjusted?

[R0dBender]

Hey guys,

New to the forum and to marine mechanics I am deterred to get to the bottom of my boats problem lol I have a 1996 sunbird 170 fish and ski with a V4 88hp Johnson 2 stroke, the problem im having with the boat starting consistently. I think its the neutral safety switch bc i have to pull forward and backward on the throttle to get it to start. If i keep it in neutral and pull back the boat will throw the starter every time but once i push the bottom in to engage in fast idler to give it gas the starter stops. With a little patience i can always get the boat started i.e.. rip throttle back a and forth to get it started. Once in a while the boat will start in gear and take off on me, Also a few times i would put it in gear and the boat would run in revers. I would have to shout it off and shake it to get it to mover forward.

Where is the neutral safety switch on my motor or throttle, and if it is in the throttle linkage how do you adjust it. I can hardly fit my hand in their i don't see an easy way to get to the switch.

I would appreciate any help guys
If you need more info just ask

Oh PS. might be unrelated but a few times i would have the boat open at around 4000 rpms and it will just bog down and die on me. After restarting the boat it response normal and no indications if any problems

 

[phillnjack2]

Re: I think my neutral safety switch is acting up / need adjusted?

ahh now i had that problem with a friends box.

it turned out to be the knob on the box that can be turned to make the lever tighter or looser !!!
if it was set very loose it would interfere with the neutral postition switch !!!
when you open the control box you might see the same thing, or the switch might of come loose or dirty connection.

i would try the throttle tightener first, there is probably a name for this but i cannot think what its called.



phill

 

[R0dBender]

Re: I think my neutral safety switch is acting up / need adjusted?

Bump

Thanks for your help phil, i found a diagram of my control box but at looking at it i don't know where this switch listed at #21 goes ? Another question is the linkage messed up and thats throwing the Neural safety switch off?

Thanks guys

Im stumped

 

[boobie]

Re: I think my neutral safety switch is acting up / need adjusted?

You could have a loose or bad neutral safety switch in the box or else your shift cable is misadjusted.