Thread: No Start on 40hp Evinrude - where's neutral safety switch?

Originally Posted by cray

Maybe this will help. Have to go down a paragraph or so to starting section that describes neutral safety switch. Glad it's you and not me.
Maintaining Johnson 9.9 93 & newer

This covers your motor also.

Great info. It's got to be my ignition key switch. The solenoid is getting ground because I can jump the big/thick positive wire to the small terminal and crank the engine. If the neutral safety switch was bad it would not have a ground.

"When you turn the key to the start position, voltage is fed INTO one small terminal of the solenoid. This voltage goes thru the solenoid, then continues OUT of the other small terminal to one side of the Neutral Safety Switch. The other side of the Neutral Safety Switch goes to a ground connection (if the motor is in Neutral). This completes the circuit and the solenoid closes. "

I actually did try to use my test light on that small terminal to see if it was getting voltage, but the test light failed on me. doh

We will see in the morning. Thanks everyone, especially Cray. Great read you found there.

I love this site.

ED,
how are you trying to start this motor? what's exact the procedure ?

Check that key and see if it's just off/on and not off/on/start. Pretty sure that motor also has a "start" button. Follow the tiller arm toward the motor and see if there is not a button on the bracket that it attaches to. (Port side of arm)

Don't tell me that's the starter button there. The black rubber button in the middle (well, center and up and left a little) of the picture. Kinda assumed it was an electronic choke. Makes a little noise I thought that came from the carburetor area. But it still did not engage the starter motor.

And what I did to try to start it. Well, I just turned the key. Seems to turn just like a car ignition key, with an accessory position, and a engage starter motor position that you have to hold.

Thanks for all the help.

Originally Posted by Slab

Don't tell me that's the starter button there. The black rubber button in the middle (well, center and up and left a little) of the picture. Kinda assumed it was an electronic choke. Makes a little noise I thought that came from the carburetor area. But it still did not engage the starter motor.

And what I did to try to start it. Well, I just turned the key. Seems to turn just like a car ignition key, with an accessory position, and a engage starter motor position that you have to hold.

Thanks for all the help.

that be it , here is the schematics on your motor !!! hope this helps !!!
OEM Parts

Yankee Gewber!!!!!!

It is a 1995 model. If the kill switch is tripped the motor will still turn over but will no have spark. The kill switch does the same thing as the ignition switch does when turned to off. It puts a ground on the black/yellow wire. A bad neutral safety switch will prevent the motor from turning over. The most common problem that prevents the motor from turning over is a blown 20 amp fuse. See item #39 here :: iShopMarine.com :: (check the big red wire on the ignition switch. There should be 12V there all the time if that fuse is good)

Those goof balls! So they just re-use the same ignition key switch from motor to motor. I have console on my Tracker with an Evinrude and it starts just like a car. Just like I tried starting this one. But on this one, it's just the first key position that's any good! The second position is just a cruel joke! Nice!

Thanks for your help. Sounds like that button may be bad though as I did try it, and it only made a very minor (barely perceptible) click up near the carbs. That's why I thought maybe it was an electronic choke or sumtin.

Crappie.com rocks.