So my engine wouldn't start for a long long while. Until on the engine control panel, I flipped this unlabeled switch. I haven't paid much attention to it, but now it's got my attention:
I haven't found an hour to trace the wires and figure out what it goes to. I thought perhaps somebody here would know what it does?
The engine will crank for days, but won't start unless it's flippped. The engine will continue to run after it's unflipped.
Does anyone have an engine panel that looks like this (Universal M-25 on mk1 #183)?
Thanks!
That switch, on an unmodified panel from your vintage, is the blower switch. Do your air blowers work? It sounds like the ignition is wired to not start the engine unless the blowers are on (or at least, the switch is on).
The thing to the left of the mysto switch is where your engine kill cable pull handle should be. Since it is missing my first guess was that someone rigged the (unused?) blower switch to shut off the engine, but you said that switching it when the engine is running has no effect. How _do_ you kill the engine?
Nick Tonkin
*Former* Website Administrator, C36/375IA
*Former* owner, C36 tr/fk #255, Santa Barbara, CA
The fuel cutoff for the engine is mounted just below the companionway real close the the engine. It stops just fine.
Looking at some wiring diagrams, it seems like the switch was intended for a blower. I didn't hear a blower (or fuel pump) turn on when I flipped it, but I wasn't listening for it either (there was also the audible alarm and engine cranking so it'd have been easy to miss.
We'll probalby be at the boat later this week and I"ll do some more investigation looking for blowers/fuel pumps and the sounds they make.
Thanks for the help!
I suspect a previous owner installed an electric fuel pump and used the blower circuit to power it.
Look for an electric fuel pump.
Just a guess.
Bill Matley
Duncan Bay Boat Club
Cheboygan, Michigan
Lakes Huron, Michigan,
Canadian North Channel
"Spirit of Aloha" Hull #1252
There had better be an electric fuel pump! The M25 engine will crank, start, and run for several minutes, without the fuel pump running. I doubt that that's it: unless there's also an electrical interrupt preventing current from reaching the starter motor.
Nick Tonkin
*Former* Website Administrator, C36/375IA
*Former* owner, C36 tr/fk #255, Santa Barbara, CA