Installing a lanyard kill switch

bct · 19 August 2021, 16:22

Picked up an old (90s?) tohatsu 15HP 2-stroke yesterday from Craigslist. It has a push button stop instead of a lanyard kill switch.

Anything special I should know to replace it? From what I can tell it's just a generic $15 part where I connect (splice?) the new switch to the existing wires.

Matt · 19 August 2021, 17:54

Pretty much. You need to check whether it's make to stop or break to stop on the stop switch and make sure the lanyard operates the same way.

Some of the lanyards operate as both a lanyard and stop switch - you can press it even with the lanyard connected and that'll still stop the motor.

bct · 20 August 2021, 05:20

Sounds easy enough. Will give it a shot this weekend

GuyC · 20 August 2021, 06:05

Deleted as I read the OP properly!

bct · 21 August 2021, 02:29

Actually not so sure now. I found an unfamiliar connection on the wire from the switch under some electrical tape. It looks pretty different from any of the switches I've seen for sale. I guess I could start splicing but maybe there's a simpler way.

GuyC · 21 August 2021, 08:44

That is just a bullet connetor plug. I doubt you'll get an identical plug on the end of of a kill switch. I'd cut the wires on the push button side of the plug and attach the kill switch. Use decent in line connectors.

You'll have to work out a way of attaching the kill switch to the engine but there is a blank hole just to the right of the stop switch that looks ideal.

The reason for cutting it on the button side of the existing connector is that if you want to return it to just a button you are not messing around with the engine loom.

The stop button ends up being superfluous unless you wire it so that either work. It would need to be in parallel if it is make to stop and in line if it is break to stop....I think.

bct · 23 August 2021, 07:04

I got some bullet connectors and spliced in the kill switches wires. Brown to ground.

Worked! I'm a bit concerned that if my splice fails then, because this is a magneto switch (red button?) then I won't be able to stop the engine. But I guess they're all like that.

GARYSHORT · 21 January 2022, 16:05

Interesting article from Boat US. What are your thoughts and experiences, especially anyone using the Fell Marine MOB wireless system:

https://www.boatus.org/findings/42/

Pikey Dave · 21 January 2022, 16:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by GARYSHORT

Interesting article from Boat US. What are your thoughts and experiences, especially anyone using the Fell Marine MOB wireless system:

https://www.boatus.org/findings/42/

Is it that time of year already ?🥴