Mercury outboard is surely an exquisite boat to own. It’s great that you have such fine taste! However, it’s not always that easy to use, right? We’ve heard on multiple occasions that they are having difficulties finding the neutral safety switch!

You must be perplexed to face that but you’re not alone at all.

So, what is the mercury outboard neutral safety switch location?

Usually, you’ll find the mercury outboard neutral safety switch located in the throttle area. You’ll see a kill switch beneath the throttle as well. On some occasions, the switch can be found in the control handle of the engine. However, it’s important to know the difference between the two switches.

While you got the idea about the neutral switch, there are some other things to know. Is your curious mind looking for more? Then, don’t wait and start reading already!

Neutral Switch & Kill Switch

Before we go deep inside the location of the mercury neutral switch, let’s talk about another switch. And that is a kill switch. The reason to bring up this topic is that many get confused between these two!

Let’s clarify the position of the neutral switch first. The role of the neutral switch in your mercury boat is to prevent any accidental mishaps. It does that by not engaging the engine when you have it in any gear other than neutral.

So, the positioning of the neutral safety switch should be very clear to you. Now, you might be thinking that then what is a kill switch? Well, let us explain that too!

The kill switch in your boat applies power to the starter solenoid without any grounding. So, it does not complete the circuit to the ground. However, the kill switch is also very important to start the engine.

Unless you put the kill switch in the right position, the ignition module won’t initiate sparks. Also, there can be ignition switch issues too that can cause no sparks! If there’s not any spark going around your engine, how will the engine start?

That’s why the kill switch is equivalently crucial for your mercury outboard boat.

Can you differentiate between these two switches now? Hopefully, you won’t face any problems with these switches in the future.

Now, it’s time to answer your actual query regarding the neutral safety switch!

Mercury Outboard Neutral Safety Switch Location

As your query is about only the mercury outboard neutral safety switch, we’ll focus on that. You won’t find any other mercury outboard queries answered here. For example, mercury outboard cranks but doesn’t start is a very frequently asked query.

Coming back to the point, you’ll find your neutral safety switch located on the transmission side. Or you can find it around the throttle area. That’s the ideal location for the switch.

You’ll also see an emergency stop switch in the same area. Your engine control area contains all of these important switches in one place. While these can be easier to find, it’s tough to maintain their usage.

You can’t engage the engine without turning on these two switches. So, try to look at the switches and levers before you actually start the engine. Otherwise, your boat won’t even start. But it can also be non-responsive for a different reason!

Yes, a broken safety switch. How do test whether it’s good or bad? Look at the next segment!

How to Test Boat Neutral Safety Switch? The Easiest Method!

Now that you know the exact location of your neutral safety switch, you’re finally tension-free! But are you really? Unfortunately, the reality is very different from what you’re thinking.

Because there is still a lot more to know about neutral safety switches.

Even though you are well aware of your safety switch, it’s still not enough. You obviously need to know about your safety switch condition. Otherwise, your boat engine won’t even run properly.

So, it’s imperative that you know how to test your safety switch.

Now, how can you actually do that? That’s what you’ll know in this segment. Here, we’ll talk about the testing process and diagnose the safety switch.

To test your safety switch, first, take out the whole switch from your boat. It’s a fairly simple process. When you have the switch taken out, see the two connection ends. One should be a metal body and the other would like a pin.

At this point, all you need to test the safety switch is a multimeter. Yes, that’s right, you won’t need anything else.

A simple multimeter will tell you the exact condition of your neutral safety switch.

Do you have a multimeter? If you don’t have one, you can get one at a very affordable price.

Put the multimeter in continuity check mode and put the two needles on the two ends. If you put the neutral switch in neutral, then the connection should show beeps. Or it will short circuit.

Either way, it will show a connection between the two ends.

However, when the switch is in other gears, you’ll see no inflection on the multimeter. So, that’s how you test whether your safety switch is good or not.

As the question of a bad neutral safety switch has come up, let’s discuss that. You might want to start your boat in gear. But a bad switch is restricting that. So, what can you do in a situation like that?

You can either get your safety switch bypassed or get a new one! You can get one without spending too much.

One extra thing to add for you! You can always use the cut-off switch to be extra sure about your boat’s engine.

FAQs

Where is Safety Switch Mercury Outboard?

Mercury outboard has the safety switch in the throttle area. There, you will find your two different safety features that make the Mercury more secure. First is the emergency stop switch which should be attached to your floating device. The second feature is the neutral positioning of the throttle.

Can I Bypass My Neutral Safety Switch?

Unless you absolutely need to bypass your neutral switch, it’s best to avoid the process. Because your safety switch sits way inside the transmission selector switch. The ignition switch also goes directly through the safety switch. So, it’s advised not to change anything with these switches.

What is the Cost to Replace a Neutral Safety Switch?

The average cost to replace the neutral safety switch fall in the range of $150 to $170. The service fee takes around $75, and the rest of the cost is for the switch. However, the cost can increase due to taxes and additional repair fees. So, the cost will vary depending on the location.

How do you bypass a neutral safety switch on an outboard motor?

Assuming you have a basic understanding of wiring and safety, it is possible to bypass the neutral safety switch on an outboard motor. This can be done in one of two ways:

The first way is to disconnect the wires that run from the ignition switch to the starter solenoid. This will disable the starter circuit, meaning that the engine will not start unless the neutral safety switch is bypassed.

The second way is to simply jumper the wires that run from the ignition switch to the starter solenoid. This will bypass the need for the neutral safety switch altogether, but it is important to note that this method is not recommended as it presents a serious safety hazard.

Concluding Words

So, that’s how you find your mercury outboard neutral safety switch location! True it might seem tough at first but eventually, you’ll get there.

Still, you’re more than welcome to know your findings in the comments.

Now, you can drive your mercury boat without any concern.