My 149 died and won't start
 

I was pulling the 149 in the garage to work on the "surging" hydro issue, and as soon as I got it in, the motor just died, no chugging, pops, etc, just plain old died. Now nothing happens when I turn the ignition, no clicks, etc. Can this be as simple as a fuse? Perhaps related to the hydro issue? Any ideas certainly welcome. It is a great running engine with a new carb, points, and plug (when running, of course). Thanks in advance, Marty

Sounds like a charging issue to me. Are you sure your battery has a good charge in it? I'd check all grounds too.

Yes I had charged the battery before starting it, and it died less than 50 feet from where it started, and I put the charger back on it, and it was only drawing about 1.5 amps so the battery had/has a good charge.

Sounds like a bad wire or cable connection somewhere.

I gotta agree with Roland... definitely electrical.

I have heard tell of ignition switches going bad, never had one do it myself though.

Use your jumper cables and jump the S/G off your truck, Pos. to "A" terminal and neg. to frame. Hook the neg. up LAST.

If the S/G tests good then use your test light and a wiring diagram and work your way out from the battery.

I'll bet you don't get much farther than the ign. switch though.

Certainly sounds like you lost contact somewhere. Check with a multimeter starting at the battery and work you way to the starter and see if you have lost contact somewhere.

OK, I tested the starter by connecting positive from battery to the starter terminal. I pulled the ignition switch and tested the "start" position and "ignition" position for continuity and they checked OK. The P.O. bypassed all the safety switches, so I guess that leaves the voltage regulator? Can these just die all of a sudden while running? How can I test the voltage regulator?

How about checking BATTERY to "ign/start"? "Start" and "Ign" shouldn't have continuity..... unless you were holding the switch in the "start" position. Is there 12V at the key switch? How about we start with that. If so, is the solenoid working? ..... What about the coil? Did you check for 12V at the positive side of the coil? I HIGHLY doubt, the voltage regulator has anything to do with your problem.

There are Wiring Diagrams in the Technical Library Section that you can use to methodically test and trace the issue down...... Wiring Diagrams

OK, My ignition switch has 3 prongs, "ign" "st" and "bat". I want to test voltage at the plug that attaches to the ignition switch, correct? Which of the 3 on the molex plug should I insert the red and black mulitmeter leads? Forgive me, I don't know much about electrical, but willing to learn. Thanks for all of your suggestions, Marty