ignitions in my quicksilver control

[coachbob70]

Hello Everyone,

I am new to boating but I have read MANY threads here and they have been extremely helpful. I was given a 1981 SPR (not sure) boat with a 1991 mecury outboard motor. I have two basic questions with many secondary questions to go along with it.

When I first got the boat, after sitting for two years, I replaced the spark plugs, gas, oil, and greased it up b/f I ran it on the water. My first problem after running the boat for a few minutes was the primer bulb went flat and the boat will not run. It seem to be stavering for gas After checking the fuel lines, changing gas, water seperator, and the plugs again, I got it to run but the primer bulb went flat again. I thought it could be a bad primer bulb but I am currently using a external gas tank (and same primer bulb) and the boat ran fine Should I assume my gas tank is bad becuase I'm pretty sure the fuel lines are clear of dirt.

My second and most pressing question is an electrical one. When I had the boat on the water, my overheat alarm would not shut off. It came on immedately and would not go off. It sounded like there was a short b/c the buzzing sound would be strong then sound weak; almost like there was a short I disconnected the alarm wire and the boat would not fire up. I could hear a click at the starter selonoid but the motor would not turn over Ulitimately I replaced the starter selonoid and starter and boat fired right up and ran well. After running the boat for a while I tried to start it up but I blew the 20 amp fuse that supplies the trim and ignition Once I replaced the fuse I could start the boat and the trim seemed to be working fine. I took the boat out again, while I was running the boat I trimmed up to get on plane and all seemed good. I turn the boat off to swim and when I went to start it to leave, the boat would not start I checked the fuse and it was fried again. I did not have an extra fuse so I wrapped some tin foil around the fuse and that got me running again. When I went to replace the fuse after docking I noticed the housing of the fuse was melted pretty bad. I replace the housing and fuse but the boat would not firer up. I shorted the starter selonoiid to get the boat running so I could pull it out of the water. When I opened up the quicksilver control box it looked as if I fried the ignition switch; so I replaced it. After hooking the swicth up (follwed wiring instructions and color scheme) the boat still will not fire up. I talked to a boat mechanic and he said I have a bad nuetral safety switch but I could tie the yellow w/red strip wires together to bypass the switch. He told me it was only a quick fix b/c the boat could start in gear w/out the nuetral safety switch. This is how I rewired the switch- the switch has six screw in terminals S, (A), M, B, M, I, C- the A is for a four position switch only so I could not use it. I hook the S terminal to yellow/red strip, M to ground screw, B hooked to red (hot), M to black/yellow strip, I to purple, and C to yellow/ black strip... Please help and thanks

 

[Chris1956]

Re: ignitions in my quicksilver control

Coach, Your fuel issue is either a partially clogged fuel tank vent or a partially clogged antisiphon valve, in the fuel pickup tube. Run with the fuel tank cap loose. if it works fine, clean or replace the fuel tank vent. if the symptoms are the same, remove the antisiphon valve. It is usually located screwed into the elbow on the fuel pickup on the fuel tank.

Your mechanic is guessing wildly. You do have a short in the boat or motor wiring, blowing your fuse. Usually it is on the purple wire, so check it it's entire length if you can. A lot of times the purple wire can melt onto the black wire shorting out, since they are usually paired to run the gauges. Using tinfoil to replace a fuse was very bad. You could have had a fire. Jumpering the solenoid to start the motor is much safer.

BTW- you have hooked up the ign switch properly. The yellow/red solenoid wire needs to go thru the neutral start switch. I recommend you test the switch. They hardly ever break.

The overheat alarm sensor grounds when it detects overheat. Of course any missing insulation on the overheat circuit can ground ot the block causing the alarm.

 

[coachbob70]

Re: ignitions in my quicksilver control

Thanks for responding Chris56....
Before joining Iboats......I went to replace the antisiphon valve but the boat did not come with one. It came with a 90 degree elbow without the siphon ball inside it. When I talked to the mechanic he said they usually dont to replace them when they go bad... they just replace the valve w/out the siphon ball inside. So I put the old elbow that came with the boat back on. Should I put an antisiphon valuve on? As for the vent I can easily blow through both sides of the fuel vent. On the vent itself, I clean the vent hole that leads outside of the boat. Since doing this I have not been able to run the boat so I don't know if the vent is the problem or causing the primer bulb to go flat.

I will go out and check the purple wire and all others for burning. I will let u know by the end of today or tomorrow. Thanks again Chris!!

 

[Chris1956]

Re: ignitions in my quicksilver control

Well if you do not have an A-S valve and the fuel tank vent is clear, you may have a disintegrating fuel line which is blocking the fuel flow to the primer. Do you have a fiter between the primer bulb and the fuel tank? If so that may be the restriction.