I haven't figured out why my starboard engine dies after a while but now the port is acting up.
Background (which may or may not hold a clue): When I went to winterize in 2019 it was running fine until, after shutting it off for five minutes I couldn't restart it. Seemed to be a spark issue but didn't get it running again. Not touched since until now. Started up. Was running fine. I was trying to recreate same conditions, i.e. run for a while, let sit, try to restart. After running it for a while and shutting off had trouble getting it to turn over, but would after several attempts, then wouldn't anymore. Discovered that the bolt on the battery (of which you usually on see the threads and used to connect using a wingnut) where you attach the cable had separated from the battery. How or why don't know, was no physical force on it, there was some evidence it had gotten hot but no wholesale melting of the lead. Put in another battery.
Issue: would not turn over. discovered that there was power (12V) to key, but when you turn the key, no power, at the key. I don't mean voltage drop like it was trying to turn over, no power. No noticed sound (e.g. no clicking), meter drops to zero volts (on wire that supplies power to ignition key) when the key is turned on (to on, not start).
Figured I would try disconnecting wires at various to see if I could localize the problem. Tried neutral safety switch and wire to coil, no difference. Then disconnected plug to harness at engine. That killed power to key. Cleaned up plug and reconnected. Engine cranked. (Late in day at that point, packed it in)
Question: could cleaning up the plug have solved the problem or is it likely to be intermittent and it was just a coincidence?
Second question: can anyone explain how turning the key on would kill the power? Turning the key on should just allow the power to continue, right? So even if there was a bad connection or ground somewhere downstream there should still be power at the key, right?
Thank you.
Background (which may or may not hold a clue): When I went to winterize in 2019 it was running fine until, after shutting it off for five minutes I couldn't restart it. Seemed to be a spark issue but didn't get it running again. Not touched since until now. Started up. Was running fine. I was trying to recreate same conditions, i.e. run for a while, let sit, try to restart. After running it for a while and shutting off had trouble getting it to turn over, but would after several attempts, then wouldn't anymore. Discovered that the bolt on the battery (of which you usually on see the threads and used to connect using a wingnut) where you attach the cable had separated from the battery. How or why don't know, was no physical force on it, there was some evidence it had gotten hot but no wholesale melting of the lead. Put in another battery.
Issue: would not turn over. discovered that there was power (12V) to key, but when you turn the key, no power, at the key. I don't mean voltage drop like it was trying to turn over, no power. No noticed sound (e.g. no clicking), meter drops to zero volts (on wire that supplies power to ignition key) when the key is turned on (to on, not start).
Figured I would try disconnecting wires at various to see if I could localize the problem. Tried neutral safety switch and wire to coil, no difference. Then disconnected plug to harness at engine. That killed power to key. Cleaned up plug and reconnected. Engine cranked. (Late in day at that point, packed it in)
Question: could cleaning up the plug have solved the problem or is it likely to be intermittent and it was just a coincidence?
Second question: can anyone explain how turning the key on would kill the power? Turning the key on should just allow the power to continue, right? So even if there was a bad connection or ground somewhere downstream there should still be power at the key, right?
Thank you.