shift interrupter switch

[rinkerruss]

If I cannot get the engine to briefly stall, could this mean a bad switch or a power to switch problem?

 

[dccordell]

Re: shift interrupter switch

How are you trying to get the engine to stall? By pressing the shift interrupt switch, or by shifting the drive, or...? The switch doesn't have "power", just switches the ground current on or off going to the coil.

You should post what model/year your engine and drive are so the experts here can tell you exactly... and what problem you were already having to be testing the switch in the first place.

 

[rinkerruss]

Re: shift interrupter switch

Sorry about that. I'm new at this and in no means am I a boat mech. I have a 98 rinker with a 350 vortec engine. Friends have worked on it for me.Right now I'm haveing problems shifting back into neutral and reverse. Doesn't want to go to neutral. It takes a couple of min. and then it will settle in. Also shifter is very stiff trying to get to neutral and reverse only when prop has load. Thinking switch is not stalling engine to allow it to shift. when I engage switch, the engine does not stall. Thanks for any input.

 

[Stamey]

Re: shift interrupter switch

When you engage the switch, which should engage when coming our of forward or reverse, you should hear the engine stall for a second as you shift. If you engage the switch independent of everything else it should cut the engine off, depending on how log you engage it for. If it is not cutting out the engine trace the wiring. One end should go to ground and the other end should go to the coil.
You should have coil voltage on one side of the switch, approximately 9v, depending on the voltage drop across the coil.

Chris

 

[WILSONS88]

Re: shift interrupter switch

If its that stiff you probably need a new lower shift cable.

 

[rinkerruss]

Re: shift interrupter switch

Thanks for your input. I think the wire to the coil is the problem. I think this site is really cool!

 

[rinkerruss]

Re: shift interrupter switch

I posted that I think the wire to the coil is the problem. The real proplem is that we had the distributor changed to an AEI which eliminates the coil. Now my interupter switch does not work. Is there another way to wire this switch? Thanks for any input on this subject.

 

[Don S]

Re: shift interrupter switch

If I cannot get the engine to briefly stall, could this mean a bad switch or a power to switch problem?

I'm haveing problems shifting back into neutral and reverse.

Thinking switch is not stalling engine to allow it to shift. when I engage switch, the engine does not stall.

Sounds to me like you have several problems.
You can test the shift interrupt switch and the wiring at the same time without tools. Just disconnect both wires from the shift interrupt switch. Then, with the engine running, touch the two wires together and see if the engine dies. If the engine dies, the switch is bad.

Not going into neutral may be nothing more than an adjustment since your friends have been working on it. Did anyone have a manual to make sure the adjustments were done correctly? If not, here is a link to download one for free.
http://www.4shared.com/document/dPQUcyn_/Service_Manual_14.html

 

[Don S]

Re: shift interrupter switch

The real proplem is that we had the distributor changed to an AEI which eliminates the coil. Now my interupter switch does not work. Is there another way to wire this switch?

Well, that would have been handy to know right to start with.
What exactly is an AEI distributor, marine distributor I hope.

 

[rinkerruss]

Re: shift interrupter switch

Not sure about it being a marine. It was a guy at auto store that told me to use this as he used it on his boat with success. Allows boat to turn over better. As I said, I'm not a machanic. I know that this eliminates the coil. The problem is I need to know if there is a way to wire the interupter switch without a coil?
I just want to make it through this summer. I could go back to original equipment later.
Thanks

 

[eldplanko]

Is there another way to wire this switch?

Would rewiting the shift inerupter switch to a relay that cuts the +V to the ignition work?

 

[rinkerruss]

Re: shift interrupter switch

I have no clue. I'm waiting on mechanic friend to get here and maybe he knows. If anyone else knows if this would work please explain, detail
Thanks

 

[Don S]

Re: shift interrupter switch

You need to get a proper MARINE distributor.
marine for a couple of reasons. First, the are ignition protected, which means they are designed to prevent sparks from igniting gas fumes in the bilge should something fail.
Second, the timing advance is different between automotive and marine.

Most auto parts store guys have no clue about either of the above.

Without know what type distributor you have, there is no way to tell you how to wire the shift interrupt switch. Grounding it could easily destroy the module inside the distributor.

 

[rinkerruss]

Re: shift interrupter switch

ok, sounds like I need to go back to original distributer
Thanks

 

[Don S]

Re: shift interrupter switch

Why did you replace the Thunderbolt V distributor to begin with? It's beginning to sound to me like your friends are throwing parts at it to fix something,

 

[rinkerruss]

Re: shift interrupter switch

I was talked into it. Cant remember why as this was a couple of years ago. Since then I had a cracked block and replaced that, so now I'm fine tuning things. Doesn't boat stand for "bust out another thousand"

 

[Don S]

Re: shift interrupter switch

Doesn't boat stand for "bust out another thousand"

Especially when you have people that don't know what they are doing working on it.
I have read it many times on these forums where friends helping caused more problems than the cured. They mean well, but if they don't have a manual and aren't familiar with what they are working on, they just cost you money. Who winterized your engine with the cracked block? Your friend?