Marine propulsion device including ignition interruption means to assist transmission shifting

摘要

Shifting of a marine propulsion device transmission drivingly connecting a drive shaft to an internal combustion engine and including a rotatable member operable to shift the transmission between forward drive, reverse drive and neutral positions in response to rotation of a shift lever is assisted by an arrangement including a pin or element pivotally connected to a push-pull assembly operated by a main control and carried by the shift lever. The shift assistance arrangement includes a spring which retains the element in a normal position relative to the shift lever when shift resistance to movement of the transmission from an "in gear" to the neutral position is less than a predetermined level and permits displacement of the element relative to the shift lever from the normal position when the shift resistance is above that predetermined level. The shift assistance arrangement also includes a switch operable when actuated to selectively interrupt engine ignition. This switch is carried on the shift lever and is actuated to interrupt engine ignition in response to displacement of the element from the normal position.