Ignition wires

[DavidKnapp]

Got a 89 ranger ,on the ignition it has two black wires I'm a suming going to magneto does both wires need to be connected so the key will kill the motor .One was melted !
I installed a kill switch using the blk and yellow wire ,if the kill switch is in placed the engine starts and runs but try to shut off the key won't kill it it has to be shut off with kill switch .Does this indicate I need a switch?
One other thing that I need say is that the kill switch only kills the engine when the key is in off .

 

[Don S]

Re: Ignition wires

What motor we working on?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Ignition wires

Being a Ranger it's likely an outboard and yes -- both wires need to be connected. ONE of the wires comes from the magneto and the other is ground. When you turn the key off the wire from the magneto is connected to the wire going to ground via the two "M" terminals on the ignition switch thus shorting the ignition to ground and killing the engine. The kill switch is essentially connected in parallel with the two "M" terminals so either one will kill the engine. Someone probably stuck the ground wire onto the "I" "A" or "B" terminal) on the switch and promptly put a direct short to +12 volts. Hence the melted wire.

 

[DavidKnapp]

Re: Ignition wires

Thanks for clearing that up for me ,so the magneto wire needs to run through the kill switch which is the black not the yellow and black,and the other black needs to be grounded.is that I'm understanding .