Won't shift into forward

[bwren]

I will say this that is not my exact controller. That one looks like an outboard one with the key lock and all which mine does not have but will still check. On a side note mine does have the little 2 node connection labeled as trailer power. What would that be used for?

 

[stonyloam]

Trailer power may be for the trailer button? OK here is a manual https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1T...hMGQ3YzQ1/view Look around page 70 for the commander control, with the square TO button. The internals are the same on the commanders. Just that one has the ignition in the control.

 

[bwren]

ok i have done a lot more working and testing since my last log on here are the things i have found.

after adjusting shift cable, prop is no longer spinning as the engine is cranking.
I had already replaced the starter i know was bad.
I found the engine is not getting spark. I replaced the ignition coil and it still has no spark. New coil barely make test light come on.
I put the test light on the slave solenoid. The big and small yellow terminals both light the test light full. It's only a green test light so nothing happens on the black (ground) terminal. The big question is what does the red terminal do?? Red terminal does NOT turn the test light on with key in any position or even while trying to crank. I am a newbie but it seems red terminal should have power. since it doesn't what should i check? Could this be a bad slave solenoid? Everything i have read says if slave solenoid it bad it won't turn over which mine does so seems like there is an issue before the slave on the red wire. does this make sense?

 

[stonyloam]

Any red wire should have 12v directly from the battery. Get yourself a digital volt meter and check. If you have no power at the red wire you have no power to the slave. If you have points, they are probably the problem. Coils rairly fail, points fail all the time.

 

[bwren]

i'm not very familiar with engines with a distributor cap. I know the points are under the cap, but would i be looking for?
Here's some added info i just tried to jump it using a jumper wire from the 2 big terminals on the slave. again it turned over but wouldn't fire up. I put the test light on the starter itself, and it had same problem. no power to the red terminal which is connected directly to the battery, this is even more confusing because if the red wire on the starter has no power, how is it turning over? I the yellow wire strong enough to make it turn? also after trying to use the jumper wire the test light now comes on anywhere i touch the slave solenoid EXCEPT the red wire terminal. the ground terminal now lights up even the metal plate that attaches to the block. is this a temporary energize from the jump??