Dead in the water!

[brshooter]

I was doing the final prep for the flotilla tomorrow and came across a problem. I had charged the batteries and wanted to make sure it would crank over. Put the key in the ignition and it won't turn. Feels like the switch went bad(happened in my truck once). I tried both keys, squirted a bit of dry graphite lock lube in there and still nothing. I have been playing around for about an hour and no luck. It won't turn. This just bites!!! :mad:
Any ideas? I won't go out on the river if I have any doubt about my big motor. It would not be pretty to have it fail out there. I guess the only thing I can do is swing by North River first thing in the morning and see if I can get a new ignition switch. Might be able to show up late and fish for a couple of hours. If they can't get me going, I guess I just leave the boat there and have them fix it when they can.

I am so bummed!!!

[David Johnson]

Don't worry about fishing late, the fish start late too (water is only 39) You'll just have to find some water without a boat in it.

[SureSet]

Sorry to hear abou that Bill. I wouldn't think that dry graphite is what you want. That will lube the tumblers and make the key slide smoothly, but I doubt it would do much for a stuck contact or any corrosion.

You may have already been down this road, but the first thing I'd try is making sure it's the switch by testing voltage at the soloniod on the wire coming from the switch with the switch fully turned (use a test light, voltmeter or light bulb). It could be a solonoid that's stuck or corroded as well. If you have no voltage at the soloniod wire, and you have it at the main hot going into the switch, the next thing I'd do is wd-40 the heck out of the switch while turning it on and off. Blow out as much graphite as you can prior. I don't think you want any graphite getting in the contacts.

The other way to rule out a bad soloniod is use a jumper wire to apply voltage to the soloniod where the switch wire attaches, the soloniod shoudl engage and the motor should crank.

At least you can get it pinned down to the switch and don't spend your time replacing a good one.

EDIT: Sorry, I reread and saw that you can't TURN the switch... Lots of WD-40 is all I can offer there...

Good Luck

SureSet

[ 01-18-2002: Message edited by: SureSet ]</p>

[wiser]

May sound silly, but If you haven't allready done it, take cables off battery clean them and replace. It could be the connection between battery and cable.

[Seefood Man]

OK.....I see how this works..Now all the excuses are starting to roll in as why they didn't catch a fish....Now I see how it's done :shocked:

[Pete]

Dang, Pete G, at least some of us will be on the water. What's going on in Colorado? Skiing? :-)

[dawhunt]

Before you do anything else,CLEAN you battery terminals !!!and connections with some sandpaper
or a battery terminal cleaner.
Bob

[brshooter]

It's not a matter of the motor turning over, the problem is the ignition switch. The key won't turn.

[ry]

go down napa auto parts and buy a can of "FREE" or it may say free certified on it, it's in a white and black can. squirt some of it in the key hole, wait 2 or 3 minutes, insert key and it will turn. If you don't have a napa near just call a couple of other auto parts stores, to make sure they have it. Not all places carry this product so you might want to call first, it's a very good product and i highly recomend it to free up anything. The place may also refer to it as free certified or certified free.

[Pitch Pocket]

Before the store closes, get down there and buy a new ignition switch! They don't cost alot, and you can install it in less than 1 hour. Then you have another X number of years before you have to do it again. Otherwise, it may happen at an inopportune time.

A boat is a hole in the water you pour money into. Might as well get started.