How to bypass start in gear on mercury control box.

**carb a rator** · 11-25-2019, 11:37 AM

Trying to bypass start in gear. I know its the yellow with red stripe, but where do you cut and connect at? If anyone has a picture it would be appreciated. Thanks

**KIRCHNER** · 11-25-2019, 05:00 PM

i did mine, in the control box. you bypass a little switch. i wish i could be more helpful. cant remember s....

**InjectorService** · 11-25-2019, 05:54 PM

This is not my picture, but I circled the switch that you want to bypass. Its pretty easy to take apart the control boxes and jump this switch.

**carb a rator** · 11-25-2019, 08:03 PM

Thanks, i will get my apart this week. I bypassed one years ago but kind of forgot. Thanks for the pic.

**90 5.0** · 11-25-2019, 09:13 PM

I never take the control box apart and do them there, I get a push button switch and wire to the engagement trigger of the solenoid and either mount the push button or hide it down in the gunnel.

Will start in gear with ignition on , or start normally if the push button isn’t triggered.

Less worry of someone else starting it in gear and a whole lot easier and faster to do.

**Gordon02** · 11-25-2019, 11:39 PM

Illustrate, please. I'd like mine to work both ways.

**Merc 2.5** · 11-26-2019, 05:47 AM

I have been putting this off all summer long , didnt wanna crawl under dash to take box off , but am gonna soon , and I like sound of that push button deal.

**rock** · 11-26-2019, 08:40 AM

Hook one wire to the hot post at the starter solenoid (red wire) and another to the start post (yello w/red) and put a switch of some type in between. ezpz.

Rock

**90 5.0** · 11-30-2019, 02:03 PM

I just sold my boat or i’d Take pictures of it wired this way.

Like rock said its super super easy.

Buy a push button momentary switch like the one bellow(many out there just one example)

https://www.amazon.com/Dorman-85984-...5140384&sr=8-3

get some wire and some wire ring terminals

run one wire from the large hot 12v on the starter solinoid to one side of the switch

the other wire from the small ring terminal (yellow wire) on the starter solinoid(this is the solinoid engagement pole) to the other side of the switch.

Super easy and dont have to take anything apart and can go back to 100% stock super fast too

**99fxst99** · 12-02-2019, 10:04 AM

How about this-
For those of us with EFI motors that do not need the choke function on the key switch, wire the choke function in parallel with the safety switch. The switch would still function normally but if you desire to start in gear you push in the key. I haven't done it, but this idea came to me the other day. Thoughts?

**Dave S** · 12-02-2019, 10:32 AM

99fxst99.... sounds like a good one for injected motors..... try and cover so coastys can't find. I wish I knew a wiring trick could have made my motor start in gear..... all these years.....could have saved $$$ instead of buying SSM gear cases.......

**H20WKD** · 12-02-2019, 11:50 AM

Done here

Bob

**luv2gofast** · 12-04-2019, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by 99fxst99

How about this-
For those of us with EFI motors that do not need the choke function on the key switch, wire the choke function in parallel with the safety switch. The switch would still function normally but if you desire to start in gear you push in the key. I haven't done it, but this idea came to me the other day. Thoughts?

I think that's a brilliant idea. It looks like if you have the yellow with bk tracer (pin 6) on the engine harness, it should not be connected and should have +12v when the key is pushed in. That's the choke wire for a carb motor and not used on EFI. If that checks out, just extend it up to the terminal on the starter solenoid that has the Yellow with red on it. Works normal (lockout) when you turn the key to start, starts in gear if you push the key in.