Stalling when shifting from gear to neutral

[Bordeaux33]

Hello fellow boaters,
I have a 2002 150hp that runs great until I shift from gear to neutral...
It will stall every time. No matter if it is forward or reverse.
Any idea???

[Joe Reeves]

I have a 2002 150hp that runs great until I shift from gear to neutral... It will stall every time. No matter if it is forward or reverse.?

That engine incorporates a "Shift Cutout Switch" that causes the starboard bank to lose its ignition/spark for a fraction of a second... so quick that it's not noticed when it's functioning properly. Without it, on some boats with a certain propeller... it would be impossible to shift out of gear into neutral.

Follow the shift linkage to the engine... As you trace the mechanical linkage, eventually you'll see two wires leading to a weird looking switch... a black wire and a black/yellow wire... that's the cutout switch.

Temporarily disconnect it to see if your problem vanishes. If so, it's possible that salt has set up some corrosion at a nylon bushing (or somewhere) that is causing a sticking action which in turn is resulting in excessive pressure on the switch by the shift cable that would cause the switch to stay engaged... effectively causing the three cylinders of the starboard bank to lose its ignition/spark for too long a period of time.

Also possible that the switch has failed... BUT... not likely or the engine would or should be running on three cylinders only all the time if that was the case.

Let us know what you find.