Universal 5411 won't shut off with key

Davidasailor26 · May 3, 2020

There should be a fuel cutoff, likely a handle on the panel that you pull out. The cutoff is the proper way to shut off the engine. Turning off they key only disables the electric systems, like the electric fuel pump if you have one.

Mikem · May 3, 2020

Bob Kirkpatrick said:
Just bought 30 Catalina. Needed to bleed air from engine which went OK, but now engine won't shut off with ignition key. I know how to shut off engine on engine, but how do I get it to shut off with key?

Thanks guys.

Bob

Try pulling the throttle all the way aft and leave the tranny in neutral. That is how it is done with tiller steering.

Don S/V ILLusion · May 4, 2020

Don’t know what a tiller has to do with this but diesels don’t run on electricity - shut off the fuel flow, either by retarding the throttle or pulling the fuel (engine) stop.

Just curious - is it still running?

Mikem · May 4, 2020

Don S/V ILLusion said:
Don’t know what a tiller has to do with this but diesels don’t run on electricity - shut off the fuel flow, either by retarding the throttle or pulling the fuel (engine) stop.

Just curious - is it still running?

The tiller equipped c30 obviously does not have a steering pedestal on which the standard throttle and tranny controls can be mounted. So with a tiller the controls are side mounted in the cockpit. In the 1982 c30 with a 5411 and the side mounted controls (there was no pull cable to shut off the fuel) the procedure was to place the tranny in neutral and pull the throttle all the way aft and that shut off the fuel to the engine.

TimFromLI · May 4, 2020

I had that problem in my boat, turned out someone turned the battery to off. The battery needs to be on in order for the engine to turn off. That's on my list of things to figure out "why" one day.

Benny17441 · May 4, 2020

Diesel engines do not have electronic ignition and hence no ignition switch. The boat will have a Key Switch to turn the engine electrical system on for the starter, alternator and the gauges. To turn the engine off you need to activate the fuel cutoff. Some have a pull cable and others a dedicated solenoid servo to turn the valve off with a push button. Of course for the push button solenoid servo to operate it requires for the key switch to be on.

Tally Ho · May 9, 2020

Diesel engines will run until they run out of fuel (or air I guess). They all have a fuel cut-off...either manual or electronic. On my old Yanmar 2GM20, I can turn the key off and the motor will run until she runs out of fuel.

If you have an electronic fuel cut off, you probably need power to operate the solenoid. Unlike a propane solenoid (which would close without power), I assume a Diesel engine solenoid is the opposite...you would not want the engine to cut out jut because you ran the battery down.

Greg

Capt jgw · May 9, 2020

Unless the engine has been modified, the only way to shut off a 5411 is to pull the throttle lever all the way back. No electric shut off, no pull cable. Those things could be added, but it didn't come from the factory with them.

bawlmer · May 9, 2020

Its really not a good idea to turn off the electricity either by shutting off the key switch or battery switch while your diesel engine is running.

Don S/V ILLusion · May 9, 2020

The suspense is killing me. It’s been 6 days since this was posted and he never returned to tell us if/when or how his engine shut off.

Tally Ho · May 9, 2020

He hasn’t run out of fuel yet. :poop:

Greg

Capt jgw · May 11, 2020

He said he knew how to shut it off at the engine, do I suspect he did. He may have actually been asking how to make this old engine act like a modern computer controlled engine, which will shut off with the key. This can be done on many engines by adding an electric shut down solenoid, but not a 5411. It doesn't have a separate shut down lever, only a throttle lever.

bawlmer · May 11, 2020

Isn't anyone else concerned the OP is shutting off the electricity while the engine is running?

TimFromLI · May 11, 2020

bawlmer said:
Isn't anyone else concerned the OP is shutting off the electricity while the engine is running?

Please excuse my ignorance but why would that be a problem, the alternator?
My alternator is wired to the house bank and all batteries are wired to ACRs. So I don't see that as a problem in my setup. Am I missing something?

Capt jgw · May 11, 2020

If the alt output is connected to the starter positive battery terminal, which is the stock configuration, shutting off the battery selector switch can blow the alternator diodes. If it's connected direct to the house bank, as it should be, there will be no harm. Either way, turning off the key shouldn't hurt anything, when you do that the alternator field current is shut off and the output is still connected to the batteries, either direct or through the selector. Just don't ever shut off the selector switch with the engine running. If you have to turn the switch with the engine running, turn it the direction that doesn't go through "OFF".

bawlmer · May 11, 2020

My understanding is that if you cut field current to the alternator while it is spinning and generating electricity, you run a significant risk of damaging the alternator. Others smarter than me may have a more detailed explanation.

Tally Ho · May 11, 2020

I heard you were not supposed to turn the key off, with the engine running...but I have done it once or twice before I thought about it and killed the engine... as far as I can tell, no harm done to my stock 2GM20F or alternator.

Greg

Don S/V ILLusion · May 11, 2020

Tally Ho said:
He hasn’t run out of fuel yet.

Greg

Big tank