Faulty Ignition Switch?

[tperk100]

At ramp, starter would not engage (not even a "click" was heard). However, I could hear the click from the engine when pushing in on the key for the choke or "en-richer" or whatever it's called. I suspected the kill switch because in the past, when tested, it occasionally did not kill the engine like it's supposed to. Thought maybe it had failed and would not let engine crank. Fooled around with switch, batteries (3), tapping on starter, etc with no success. Tried about 20 times with no starter engagement. Went home.

Murphy decided to meet me at home. In garage, bumped the ignition key and starter engaged every time....about a dozen times in a row. Obviously something is intermittently acting up. Still suspecting kill switch, I CUT the 2 wires to the switch. Now with no kill switch I expected the ignition would not operate...but IT DID ...again I could bump the starter with no problem.

Soooooo...I am thinking that maybe the kill switch operates the opposite of how I thought it did, so I spliced the 2 wires together to see what would happen. (I made the connection but without the kill switch). Once again the engine starter engaged.!! Now I am a little baffled.

How could the starter, in my garage, engage with or without the kill switch? Why would the starter NOT engage at all at the ramp? All this leads me to wonder if I need to replace the ignition switch. Seem logical to me, but would like to hear other's opinions and/or suggestions.

[rodbolt17]

ok
kill switch has ABSOLUTLY NOTHING to do with cranking circuits.
test the brown wires, at the switch key at crank it connects the red to the brown then goes through the nuetral start switch,located in the control box, then to the starter solinoid at the engine.

[tperk100]

RodBolt,

Thanks much for your response, however I am not clear on what you are recommending. Can you be a little more specific / descriptive?

[rodbolt17]

what I am reccomending is checking the starter circuit,on your yamaha,if rigged with factory yamaha rigging, will be the brown wire from the switch to the control box and down the 10 pin main harness.

[tperk100]

Turns out the problem was a "senior moment." I did not have the control quite in neutral. I have only been operating outboards for about 40 years, so I am going to blame this on inexperience (aka "senior moment").

Thanks for your responses.
Tom the dumb-a** in Va Beach