75 F32 Ignition Switches

[AwayOnBusine$$]

Have owned my boat for 5 years. This is my first boat, so experience level is low. Have worked on many issues and received much valuable information from this site. Thanks to all.

Do all my piloting from the upper station. Can not start or shutdown the engines from there.

Typical day.

Ignition switches in off position at all locations.

Start starboard engine from lower position and ignition buzzer sounds for approx 15 seconds. The ignition buzzer at the upper station is buzzing.
Start port engine from lower position and ignition buzzer sounds for approv 15 seconds. The ignition buzzer at the upper station is silent.

Gauges are off at the upper helm until switches are turned on and starboard buzzer shuts off.

Return to birth and engines can not be turned off from upper station. If switches are turned off, gauges go off and buzzer for starboard engine starts and stays on until engines are turned off at lower station. If switches are left on then the starboard buzzer turns on once then engine is turned off.

1. What was the initial intent for the dual station setup?

2. Does it hurt to simply disengage all the buzzers and or only the upper ones?

[prowlersfish]

Each helm should be able to start or stop on there own . But you have to shut off on the same one as you started the engine with.

[AwayOnBusine$$]

I have tried a number of things. Don't know if that is one. But you can bet first thing in the morning I will.

Thanks

[captainmaniac]

The other thing is - on the bridge do you have the right switches? Should be three position 'off-on-momentary/start'. As long as you have the three position switch it should work fine. If not, perhaps a previous owner replaced the switches with the wrong type.

And to echo what prowlersfish said, you have to turn the engine off from the station you started it from. Also if it stalls, it can only be restarted from the station you started it from, so should really be starting them from the helm you plan to use.

[AwayOnBusine$$]

Results of test.

1. Lower station switches off. Upper station both engines will fire as long as you hold the switch in the start position. Engine quits as soon as switch is released.

2. Lower station switches on and buzzers sounding. Each engine will start and continue to run. Lower station buzzers off.

Who knew?

Still get no buzzer sounds from starboard side upper station. Which I can live with.

So now I know. Warmup engines from lower station. Shut them down, but leave them in the on position. Climb to the fly bridge and enjoy my day.

Thanks Guys!

Any harm in having buzzers removed and or turned off?

[P-Dogg]

Well, they do signal low oil pressure, when the ignition is "on" .......

[AwayOnBusine$$]

I believe what your saying is, when you start an engine the buzzer will sound until the oil pressure is up to operational level. As well as while running, if you loose pressure the buzzer will act as a warning indicator.

[prowlersfish]

Results of test.

1. Lower station switches off. Upper station both engines will fire as long as you hold the switch in the start position. Engine quits as soon as switch is released.



So now I know. Warmup engines from lower station. Shut them down, but leave them in the on position. Climb to the fly bridge and enjoy my day.

What are you leaving on ? the ignition switches ? Sounds like the upper ones have issues

[AwayOnBusine$$]

From what I understand, because I last started and stopped the engines from the lower helm. I need the switches there to be on in order to start from the upper helm.

[captainmaniac]

From what I understand, because I last started and stopped the engines from the lower helm. I need the switches there to be on in order to start from the upper helm.

What I was trying to say is if you start them from the lower station and the engine quits while you are running, it has to be restarted from the lower station. The fact that you have the lower station switch turned on, even if the engine is not running, means the upper station can not be used to start it. At least, that's they way its supposed to work. Stops someone at the alternate station from engaging the starter when the engines are already running.

When engines are running, gauges at both stations should be reading regardless of that station's ignition switch it turned on or off. So if you start the engines from lower station you shouldn't have to turn bridge switches on for the gauges to read - they should already read.

Sounds like bridge wiring may be a bit messed up. You can probably get wiring diagrams for your boat from Beacon to help figure it out.

[prowlersfish]

You should be able to restart it on the other helm if it stalls , but not shut it off . Unless someone installed a transfer switch and Trojan did not . You should be able to start at whatever station you chose to use . If you can't then you have something wrong . Could be a switch , bad or lose wire/ connection or someone has change something . I strongly believe its best always to start it at the helm you are using in case you have shut it down asap in a emergency .

Before I posted I had talk to Bob to make sure there was nothing odd on the F32 . There is not .

[AwayOnBusine$$]

When engines are running, gauges at both stations should be reading regardless of that station's ignition switch it turned on or off. So if you start the engines from lower station you shouldn't have to turn bridge switches on for the gauges to read - they should already read

This is definitely not the case. Start from lower, upper gauges are not showing anything until I turn switches on.

[prowlersfish]

When engines are running, gauges at both stations should be reading regardless of that station's ignition switch it turned on or off. So if you start the engines from lower station you shouldn't have to turn bridge switches on for the gauges to read - they should already read

This is definitely not the case. Start from lower, upper gauges are not showing anything until I turn switches on.

Now I have all the pieces to the puzzle

Since the gauges come on and it will crank but not run with the upper switches tell me you have power to the switch and that the switches are likely okay . Apparently you have a open circuit on the ignition wire between upper and lower helm . perhaps they were disconnected ?

Do you have a wiring diagram ? If so can PM me a copy/photo and I will give you the wire# and color to check . Should be a easy fix , even if you had to run 2 new wires , but likely you won't need to .

[AwayOnBusine$$]

prowlersfish Thanks. As I mentioned I, and wiring are like fire and water. There are people around that can help and will help. It's a boating community, we all help with what we can. I do have the manuals and will attempt to find the diagrams. May take a day or two. Our outside temp is 36 ferinheight and most people are prepping boats to be hauled out. Season is pretty much over. I will be here for the next season so whatever suggestions you have may have to wait till then. It surely wood be nice to resolve this issue. Might I mention I am pretty sure the flybridge has been removed at some point. I am in Canada and the boat has some US identity.

Thanks in advance!


Will become a 2021 gold supporter.

[prowlersfish]

I was going to ask if the bridge was removed .