H 30 Cable locations

Oct 20, 2011
127
Hunter 30 Green Bay
I have a 81 H30 that evidently never had a compression release cable or a kill cable. Where are these typically mounted?
 
May 27, 2004
2,055
Hunter 30_74-83 Ponce Inlet FL
Can you tell us what engine you have? My 79's is located at the helm seat.
Should be pretty obvious unless the po glassed/gelcoated over the hole.
 
Aug 23, 2009
361
Hunter 30 Middle River MD
Both on my original ysb12 and on my current ym15 the kill switch is located on the panel on my 77. I am embarrassed to say never really thought about how this switch works but in thinking about it assume it cuts power to the fuel pump as there is no ignition circuit on a diesel. Another way to do it would be a normally open electric valve that under power cuts the fuel off.

Does anyone actually know? I am going over today or tomorrow so I plan to look. To be honest I am embarrassed to say on the new engine I am not sure other than manually killing the fuel if the switch failed I am not sure how I would stop it. Obviously turning the key won't work and I am not sure as manual start has never been an option if I know where both compression reliefs are on this engine. Or for that matter if they would be readily accessible with the engine running and hot.
 
Oct 20, 2011
127
Hunter 30 Green Bay
I can find no holes anywhere. I suppose near the control panel would be best. Would just a regular push - pull cable be ok for these?
 
Feb 8, 2014
1,300
Columbia 36 Muskegon
An electric kill switch trips a solenoid that pulls the same lever a kill cable would. The engine would continue to run a while if you just stopped the lift pump.
 
Feb 8, 2014
1,300
Columbia 36 Muskegon
My kill cable is inside the cabin on the front of the engine box. It originally was out on the engine gage panel but that location forced a quick 90 deg turn in the cable and didn't work well. Also more prone to corrosion there, cables are very sensitive to that. Any push pull cable should work, Yanmar sells one marked "Engine Stop" (in Japanese) that's the right size to fit the clamp on the engine.
 
Oct 20, 2011
127
Hunter 30 Green Bay
I've never had a compression release cable on my boats. Do most people use them each time when starting their engines?
 
May 27, 2004
2,055
Hunter 30_74-83 Ponce Inlet FL
Compression release cables are used to stop the engine. It should be reset to the closed position before starting the engine.
What boats have you owned?
 
Oct 6, 2007
1,141
Hunter H30 1982 Chicago IL
Assuming we are talking about a Yanmar 2GM or similar engine here. See the attached pages from the Yanmar Service Manual. The engine kill cable is associated with governor and cuts the flow of fuel to the engine. It must be returned to the open position for the engine to start the next time and the return spring should do that automatically. The engine has no spark plugs or glow plugs, so it requires compression to generate the heat required for ignition. Turn the key, press the start button and the starting motor cranks the engine to generate the required compression. If the batteries are low or the start motor fails, you open the decompression levers to allow manual cranking to start the engine. I have not had to try that, but I hear it takes some muscle.
 

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