engine wont quit to shift

[venture2012]

I have a 24ft sea ray, 350 chevy, OMC out drive. There is a plate with a switch that is activated by a cam on the shift cable. One wire on the switch goes to ground and the other wire goes to a wire on the ignition module. Now you would think that the switch would ground the wire on the module and momentarily kill the engine so you can shift BUT, when the cam hits the switch it OPENS. The rest of the time the switch grounds the wire to the module, The engine runs fine with this wire grounded. How can this work to shift? Thanks

 

[JimG]

The intention must be to momentarily lift the ground from the ignition module and stop the spark. Maybe the module is getting an unintentional ground some other way.

Welcome to CSR!

 

[venture2012]

Well, the module has a ground wire going to the same place as the switch wire, I am wondering if anyone else has a older sea ray with this kind nof setup Thanks

 

[venture2012]

Well, the module has a ground wire going to the same place as the switch wire, I am wondering if anyone else has a older sea ray with this kind nof setup Thanks

I guess ,it must be an ESA that the interrupt switch is hooked up to. I think i'll just hook up the switch to the 12 volt to the distributor. that will do the same thing. thanks

 

[Norman45]

That is how my Mercruiser 350 is set up (to the coil)

 

[cod]

Are you sure it operates as you suggest and not opposite? Why not remove the wire from the ignition side of the switch and ground it to see if it shuts off the engine. If so, I'd say you have a bad switch.........

 

[venture2012]

Yes, one side of the switch goes to ground and the other side to a module. The switch opens when it is tripped I cant find a coil on this motor. There is just 3 small wires going to the bottom of the distributor. Inside there is some kind of electronics, but there is no coil wire going to it. It is a poser. I guess the original engine froze up and busted, and a rebuilt engine was put in. Thanks for the interest

 

[Norman45]

Ok here is a fast way to check the switch.
Use a multimeter and set it to ohms. Put the black lead on one wire coming from the switch and the red wire ont the other with the shifter in neuteral.
If the meter reads OL the circuit is open and the switch is more than likely faulty (it should read 000 or some low number). With leads still connected shift into either forward or reverse and watch the meter (gonna need 2 people). When the switch is tripped is when you should see the OL meaning the circuit has been interupted.
Remember that this effect last only a short period. Only long enough to take the torque off of the spinning gears so that they can dissengage.

 

[SCORPIO]

deleted

 

[moparlvr4406]

If you don't have an external coil someone may have changed it to an HEI
may have to improvise a hookup for the shift pac

 

[venture2012]

Hey, Mopar, your boat looks just like mine, Yeah, It's probably not a Sea Ray original. I know how to ,use an ohm meter. One wire goes to ground and the other to a module whatever it is, When you shift the switch opens up. So it ia probably an ESA that isn't working or as the other guy said someone put a different distributor on it, so the ESA wont work. I'll run the 12 volt through the switch to the dist. That'll cure the &##%* thing. thaNKS