Throttle Control Shifter Question?
 

I have a single handle shifter with trim and tilt controls. Question!! Does the trailer switch on the handle have a stop engine setting? My motor would not keep running while trying to start engine. Flipped switch and motor started. Looked it up in boat manual and couldn't find anything about it. :confused:

Doug,

That switch you flipped is probably the kill switch. Normally a clip goes in it with a lanyard attached to it. The lanyard then would clip to your body. The purpose of the switch/lanyard is to kill the engine if you were to be thrown from the boat.

HTH

~J

"flipped the switch"..? .... In reference to my boat, the trailer switch is a square button pad above the tilt/trim that you press straight in for trailering. Unless they have changed that and updated it (haven't been in newer boats recently).

To me, it sounded like you were trying to start the motor while the sterndrive was in the full up vs the full down position..?

The kill switch on my boat is located on the right side of the helm area below my radio. Which as jmills mentioned, would have the lanyard.

I forgot mention mine is on the shifter in the lower left-hand corner.

~J

Hi Doug,

I'm trying to figure out what you meant, but it sounds like you said your trailer switch is a lever... and after flipping the "lever" the motor ran. If this is correct it gets kind of confusing because almost all the single arm throttle/shifter units I have seen are like what jmills224 described, they have a trailer button either located on the surface plate or on the throttle arm.

Could you tell us the brand and model throttle/shifter you have or picture would help a lot.

Thanks,
WetWilly

Throttle Shifter
 

After viewing throttle shifter more closely , I could just make out the writing on the switch. Off and On. Being new to this boat I didn't know this would cause the engine not to start. Sending pictures of Throttle Shifter from my boat.

Thottle Shifter Pictures
 

Throttle Shifter

Throttle switches
 

Engine On and Off switch on the handle plateAttachment 711

That is exactly the same shifter I have. That switch is for a clip and lanyard to attach to. If that switch is on the off position it kills the power to your ignition and the motor will not run. Wal-Mart usually has an assortment of clips and I think the proper one is in that pack. Its about $6 US and well worth it. You don't have to have it but for safety sake you should have/use it.


~J

Lanyard Cord
 

Thanks for the pictures! Sure helps to see what is ment by lanyard cord. I will look for it in the Marine Department.

Well im glad to see this thread was sorted out in the end! :wink_thumbup:

Here is a photo I snapped of my helm (a year or two ago) and the lanyard is clearly visible...

http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/42...600x600Q85.jpg

I don't have any photos of my controller, but my tilt/trim is a flat toggle switch and the trailer button sits right above it. The pad is similar to Douglas Alderman's.

Photo of Helm
 

Another great picture of the Helm! How do you get a picture that size on this site? It makes looking at details show up better. I tried bigger and picture didn't fit into the Reply Thread on other post.

I'm spechul :wink_thumbup:


Actually I have it hosted on Webshots (www.webshots.com). There is other sites out there for photo hosting, but Webshots is what I used first so that is what I use.

Basically you log in, create an account and upload your photos. When you go to view the album you just uploaded a photo into there is a " Link to it " button on the right side. When you go to link to it, it will ask you the size of photo you want it and it automatically codes it to that specific size. Then you simply copy and paste the html code (which would be the code for Forum use) and then post it into your reply on here.

If you need any other help with it. Let me know :)

Re: Throttle Control Shifter Question?
 

Thanks for your help. One question, when the switch is in the on position, what holds the lanyard on the switch. Should it be tight so it does not fall off?

Re: Throttle Control Shifter Question?
 

Does anyone actually attach their lanyard to themselves?

Re: Throttle Control Shifter Question?
 

No.

In my smallest guilty child like voice.

Only on a jetski or wave runner.

Re: Throttle Control Shifter Question?
 

If your Kill switch is on the throttle housing, you flip the kill switch to the down (off) position, put the rubber loop into the switch housing above the switch lever then put the lever in the up (run) position and it holds the lanyard in place.

Here is a picture of the lanyard in and the kill switch in the up (run) position :

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...Nposition1.jpg


As you can see, the switch lever holds the lanyard loop from falling out. When the lanyard is pulled hard enough, the rubber loop pops out, forcing the lever down and killing the motor:


http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...witchinoff.jpg

WetWilly :wink_thumbup:

Re: Throttle Control Shifter Question?
 

In Illinois I was fortunate enough to be involved in a random boat safety check. We passed, but the officer did mention that they could write a citation for not using the lanyard when the boat was underway. Luckily we were stopped when he came by. I have the lanyard, but only use it when DNR is patrolling the ramps.

Don't know if that is the law everywhere or only in Illinois. If I had not had the lanyard, it would cost me $75.00 though.

Re: Throttle Control Shifter Question?
 

Hi jimshabbah, thats good to know, I'll have to recheck our boating laws, 75 bucks buys a lot of drinks for a weekend outing!

Re: Throttle Control Shifter Question?
 

Nope, but I do keep it attached to the killswitch and even keep a spare lanyard in a compartment just in case. I can fully appreciate the point of wearing it on a PWC or even a boat with short bulkheads, but if I'm pushing the limits so far that I get thrown out of this boat as deep as the deck is inside the bulkheads then I have much bigger problems than the motor not shutting off. Laws are laws though and they don't always take common sense into account since most are designed to protect us from ourselves (a different rant altogether). ;)