by richard w davis
(Pearland Texas)
Recently had new stator. new voltage regulator, & new ignition switch installed on a 1996 120 Force Outboard. Took the boat out and motor ran excellent. Decided to go a couple of miles out because it ran so well. Stopped to do a little fishing and noticed that no gauges were working. When I decided to start up and leave I had no power to the ignition switch. Used the emergency battery booster I have on board but still no power. Both batteries tested fully charged. I have two new batteries and simply switched over to a second battery but still no power to the ignition. After drifting in the gulf for a few hours the coast guard came to my aid and towed me in. When I took it to the shop today they found a blown fuse in that leads to the wiring harness. Could a faulty ignition switch cause this fuse to blow. The Ignition switch is not stable and turns way past the point of normal and it rotates way past normal when turning to the off position.