98 90 hp Evinrude Spl, Got lucky.. Very lucky, need help from the Smart Guys.

[floridamisser52]

Pulled my 175  AS all the from Dallas to Carabelle Florida just to take my 80 year old Dad fishing. Fixing tired tires and trailer wiring along the way. Finally , got to the Gulf and six miles out and cranked up to move, apparently a dead short to the key key switch . Voltage at brand new battery 12. 9 volts. Just wondering where to start. Thanks.

[Aaron43]

U have a pull rope?

[Aaron43]

What motor?

[floridamisser52]

98 90 hp  evenrude spl

[fitz73222]

Hey Misser,
Whats is the engine doing and how do you know it's a bad keyswitch?

[floridamisser52]

Seems to have zero power coming into the gauges. I turn the key, and nothing. Prior to that everything worked great. No audible beep when I turn the key. I was dead in the water six miles south of dog island out of Carabelle. Can I assume that I lost ground or power to the binnacle some how? Thanks in advance in advance and Happy Easter.

[GoneFission]

No power is often tied to a corroded connection somewhere near the battery.  Check the grounds and power leads - if you have 12.9 at the battery, just use your voltmeter to follow the leads until you find where the voltage disappears - there is your problem! 

And yes, you can pull start that outboard if needed!  Aaron isn't just joking here - most motors (until recently with fuel injection) can be started with a pull rope.  I have personally pull started a 115 - and I've heard of someone pull starting a 200.  I may try that some day, just to put it on uTube if it works...

[Aaron43]

No power at the gauges makes me think fuse....did u check them?

[Capt. Bob]

First,
Do you have a manual for that motor and if so, it should have a wiring diagram.

You also need a volt ohm meter (it appears you have that already ).

Armed with that you can follow the suggestions above and check power.

Do you have dual batteries and a battery switch. If so, do other devices (pumps, VHF, GPS) work when switched on?

If you have one battery and no switch, do they work (assuming you have them and they are wired through a separate positive buss).

If you can get at the switch, look at the wiring diagram. I don't have one for that year Evinrude but you may find that the power coming through the harness to the switch is purple in color. See if you have 12v at that connection and then check other connections coming off the switch for 12v when turned to the "on" position.

Does the trim and tilt still function?

Failure of the key switch is not uncommon (based on location) on boats that spend time outdoors and are not always covered. I've replaced on on my 85 115. The switch was on my 86 170 and located such that water could enter, especially with the key removed. It failed like yours except in happened after returning home (worked fine all day) and trying to flush the engine. 

Good luck.

[fitz73222]

Seems like most everything is covered in previous posts but to clarify.... Your keyswitch power is fed from the engine, not anywhere else. Check the engine fuse first, this also protects the power trim so if it doesn't tilt its points to that fuse also. If the fuse is good, check the battery connections. Check the power going to the starter solenoid, I believe on your engine, the lower engine pan needs to be removed to gain access to the solenoid, check your voltage on the main post that the battery cable is connected to and to the negative cable ground and start working back from there. If you ever get stranded again for a similar symtom, just disconnect the big red plug on the engine, this completely isolates the engine from the rest of the electrical system. your engine produces its own running voltage and does not need a battery. This only works on carb'd engines since they dont need voltage for fuel delivery. Remove the flywheel plastic cover, the flywheel is notched for a rope and pull it over (clockwise) with a rope and it will start. Remember that none of the warning systems will sound off if there is some other problem. This is for emergency only but will get you home. Also your engine tilt switch on the engine pan will still work since it gets its power on the engine side of the harness plug. Additionally, the engine will not shut off since it is isolated so either reconnect the red plug or turn the manual enrichner valve to flood the engine (at idle) to shut it off once your at the dock.

[RickK]

And yes, you can pull start that outboard if needed!  Aaron isn't just joking here - most motors (until recently with fuel injection) can be started with a pull rope.  I have personally pull started a 115 - and I've heard of someone pull starting a 200.  I may try that some day, just to put it on uTube if it works...

My 250 Yammy came with a pull rope 

[GoneFission]

And yes, you can pull start that outboard if needed!  Aaron isn't just joking here - most motors (until recently with fuel injection) can be started with a pull rope.  I have personally pull started a 115 - and I've heard of someone pull starting a 200.  I may try that some day, just to put it on uTube if it works...

Somebody beat me to it: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=bzKe9IjVW-8 

And here is a nice video of how the starting system works:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=LqHPzc2y-YQ 

[RickK]

Actually didn't look too hard for him

[floridamisser52]

Thanks all. No ohm meter but have a voltage ice pick with a beep. I suppose that will suffice . I'll check the big red fuse at the motor in the am and go from there. Also, looks like I don't have to pull that binnacle to get to the key switch to test the purple wire. Just a big nut on the key switch to test the purple wire?  Secondly, on this motor it's an unregulated charging system from the factory . Voltmeter has got to 16 volts in the pass, but this trip it pegged out past the end.  Could this have caused an issue? I've read that it can boil batteries . One last thing. I've got a clymer manuel and an Evenrude shop Manuel . I can't remember either saying you can bypass a bad key switch / stuff by pulling that fuse at the motor. That's brillant. But maybe I just didn't read far enough. Either way , this is over the top important stuff for other boaters to know before they get on the water with this type of motor. At minimum, this could save a seven hundred dollar tow or livesThanks again to all and a happy Easter!

[floridamisser52]

Checked the 20 amp fuse at the motor, pulled it and after a few minutes realized it was the "spare ". Felt so stupid. The spent fuse was inside one of those amphenol water proof links. Replaced it and all was good. But how did the fuse bow? Me thinks after I sprayed a bunch of wd-40 on the starter piñon gear it loosed some stuff and created a bind on the starter and popped the fuse. Thanks for all the tutorials that got me on the right track!