Lanyard affect 1 engine only?

[FLJetBoater]

Is it possible, or what could cause, only one of the engines to crank and not start?
As I’m sweating my ass of trying to fix our old boat my daughter was out on our new one. She calls me and says stbd engine won’t start. She started port, no problem. Crank stbd 4-5 times, no start. I tell her to pull the lanyard and reseat it as it’s the only thing that comes to mind for crank/no start. both start up no problem and I don’t hear from her for the rest of the day. When she gets home she said it did it again. But she only cranked it once then reseat the lanyard and it started right up.

Is it even possible that the kill switch could only affect one engine like that? I verified after that the kill switch does kill both engines. And both started fine on the trailer after she got back.

Thoughts?
Edit: it’s a 2015 242 LS

 

[sunbyrned]

The starboard side safety switch under the hatch may need to be raised so that it will come in contact with the hatch lid when it’s shut. If that’s the case, it’s an easy fix by loosening the nuts holding the switch, adjust height and tighten back. I hope the cause is nothing more than this.

 

[FLJetBoater]

The starboard side safety switch under the hatch may need to be raised so that it will come in contact with the hatch lid when it’s shut. If that’s the case, it’s an easy fix by loosening the nuts holding the switch, adjust height and tighten back. I hope the cause is nothing more than this.

I don’t think it’s those switches because the engine was cranking. Those switches would stop it from cranking.
I’m talking about the kill switch at the helm.

 

[Scottintexas]

Without researching it deeply, i think the lanyard switch on my boat has a terminal connector for eac engine on the bottom side, so it is possible but not likely

 

[Scottintexas]

Is it possible she didn't have the throttle at full neutral?? I only ask because we weren't there and now it's working, is she meticulous ? Its easy in a stressful no start situation to over look stuff or move stuff without realizing

 

[FLJetBoater]

Without researching it deeply, i think the lanyard switch on my boat has a terminal connector for eac engine on the bottom side, so it is possible but not likely

Thanks. I may pull it out and see if that’s the case.

 

[FLJetBoater]

Is it possible she didn't have the throttle at full neutral?? I only ask because we weren't there and now it's working, is she meticulous ? Its easy in a stressful no start situation to over look stuff or move stuff without realizing

She is very meticulous. But, throttles not in neutral wouldn’t allow crank to happen. There would be no response to turning the key

 

[tdonoughue]

Out of neutral, it would not have cranked, right? Symptoms were crank and no fire, I believe.

So I think you are right on the lanyard switch being possible but not likely. Were it warmer out, I might suspect vapor lock...

Edited to add: when were the plugs last changed?

 

[FLJetBoater]

Out of neutral, it would not have cranked, right? Symptoms were crank and no fire, I believe.

So I think you are right on the lanyard switch being possible but not likely. Were it warmer out, I might suspect vapor lock...

Edited to add: when were the plugs last changed?

Correct.

that’s my thought, possible but is it actually possible?
It was 85 degrees here today, with a much higher “feels like”

full “platinum” service done by dealer right before purchase 1 week ago.

I had the boat out all day yesterday and never had it happen to me.

 

[tdonoughue]

I have had those symptoms before. Pulled apart the lanyard switch (which as I recall is 2 stacked switches below--one for port and one for starboard), cleaned them. Made no difference. I think I concluded ultimately that it was vapor lock (it was like 98 degrees out). Running the blower more helped and it has not recurred.

So, plugs presumably good with the platinum service. Fuel issues would affect both engines. The other safeties kill the starter. And I don't think I have ever heard of the lanyard switch(es) going bad (other than my guess on mine, which was years ago).

I think I would pull a plug on the suspect engine and confirm that they actually did change the plugs. Switch cleaner on the lanyard switch... Then I am a bit at a loss.

Any more info on what she did to actually get the puppy to start? Just fiddled with stuff?

 

[FLJetBoater]

I have had those symptoms before. Pulled apart the lanyard switch (which as I recall is 2 stacked switches below--one for port and one for starboard), cleaned them. Made no difference. I think I concluded ultimately that it was vapor lock (it was like 98 degrees out). Running the blower more helped and it has not recurred.

So, plugs presumably good with the platinum service. Fuel issues would affect both engines. The other safeties kill the starter. And I don't think I have ever heard of the lanyard switch(es) going bad (other than my guess on mine, which was years ago).

I think I would pull a plug on the suspect engine and confirm that they actually did change the plugs. Switch cleaner on the lanyard switch... Then I am a bit at a loss.

Any more info on what she did to actually get the puppy to start? Just fiddled with stuff?

She didn’t do anything except pull the lanyard and replace it.

the boat is 2015, with only 40 hours. Maybe 5 since the service. So anything is possible in my opinion.

I can easily pull a plug to check tomorrow.

I have explained blower to her many times but will discuss again to confirm.

 

[tdonoughue]

The blower just may lower the temp in the engine compartment a degree or two (which, along with time, is theorized to be enough to cool the fuel rails enough to undo the vapor lock). At 85 degrees, not an issue.

I'm really hoping you find they stiffed you on the plug change... Could also be a gap issue on the plugs, I suppose, but usually then I would expect some of the cylinders to fire...