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Some people have trouble getting their engine to run or keeping it running. I have the opposite problem - getting it to shut down.
I have what I was told is a 1983 Atomic 4 in my 1968 Pearson Wanderer 30.
On the switch panel inside the companionway, there is a keyed switch that closes the ignition circuit. Up in the cockpit there is a push-button momentary switch to start the engine. To start the engine, you turn the key, which only closes the circuit (but does not start the engine). Then you hold down the little spring-loaded button to spin the starter and kick the engine over. As soon as it starts, let go of the push button and the engine runs.
To turn the engine off, you just turn the key, which opens the circuit.
At least that's how it's supposed to work.
A few weeks ago, I pulled up to the slip after motoring for about an hour, reached in and turned the key off, and the engine just kept running without any change whatsoever. The engine just completely ignored the switch.
I turned the key back and forth with no effect. I left the key in the off position and stood there scratching my head trying to figure out what to do next, when after a couple minutes, the engine finally sputtered and died.
I assumed the keyed switch was bad, so I replaced it. I now know that was about $26 wasted, because it made no difference whatsoever and it still does the same thing. I've been using the choke to kill the engine.
Last weekend, I was out sailing, and after I raised the sails, I turned the key off to try to shut off the motor, with no effect, so I choked the engine to kill it. Later, at the end of the day, I started the engine up without realizing the key switch was still in the off position. Altough the key was off, the engine started and ran just fine, but after about three minutes it started sputtering and slowing and then died. We were coasting along and I was saying two words, the first of which was "Oh..." when I suddenly realized the switch was off. I reached in, turned it back on and restarted the motor without incident.
When we got back to the dock, once again, I had to choke the engine to kill it because turning off the key had no effect.
So that tells me that either (1) there is an intermittent short somewhere in between the keyed switch and the ignition that is completing the circuit and thereby bypassing the switch or (2) there is some other component that is "sticky" - that is, it stays closed when it's supposed to open. Maybe a solenoid of some sort?
The previous owner replaced the original ignition with an electronic ignition system.
I plan on taking a good look at the wiring diagrams I have available - I took a quick look at the wires this weekend, but I didn't have time to fully trace them out.
Any ideas as to what the issue could be?
Thanks in advance.
I have what I was told is a 1983 Atomic 4 in my 1968 Pearson Wanderer 30.
On the switch panel inside the companionway, there is a keyed switch that closes the ignition circuit. Up in the cockpit there is a push-button momentary switch to start the engine. To start the engine, you turn the key, which only closes the circuit (but does not start the engine). Then you hold down the little spring-loaded button to spin the starter and kick the engine over. As soon as it starts, let go of the push button and the engine runs.
To turn the engine off, you just turn the key, which opens the circuit.
At least that's how it's supposed to work.
A few weeks ago, I pulled up to the slip after motoring for about an hour, reached in and turned the key off, and the engine just kept running without any change whatsoever. The engine just completely ignored the switch.
I turned the key back and forth with no effect. I left the key in the off position and stood there scratching my head trying to figure out what to do next, when after a couple minutes, the engine finally sputtered and died.
I assumed the keyed switch was bad, so I replaced it. I now know that was about $26 wasted, because it made no difference whatsoever and it still does the same thing. I've been using the choke to kill the engine.
Last weekend, I was out sailing, and after I raised the sails, I turned the key off to try to shut off the motor, with no effect, so I choked the engine to kill it. Later, at the end of the day, I started the engine up without realizing the key switch was still in the off position. Altough the key was off, the engine started and ran just fine, but after about three minutes it started sputtering and slowing and then died. We were coasting along and I was saying two words, the first of which was "Oh..." when I suddenly realized the switch was off. I reached in, turned it back on and restarted the motor without incident.
When we got back to the dock, once again, I had to choke the engine to kill it because turning off the key had no effect.
So that tells me that either (1) there is an intermittent short somewhere in between the keyed switch and the ignition that is completing the circuit and thereby bypassing the switch or (2) there is some other component that is "sticky" - that is, it stays closed when it's supposed to open. Maybe a solenoid of some sort?
The previous owner replaced the original ignition with an electronic ignition system.
I plan on taking a good look at the wiring diagrams I have available - I took a quick look at the wires this weekend, but I didn't have time to fully trace them out.
Any ideas as to what the issue could be?
Thanks in advance.
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