Hello,

Bought a pontoon boat with a Yamaha 70hp model 70BETO on it. Thing looks good, but has been sitting for 10+ years.

To start, I soaked everything with penetrating oil. I mean everything.

Steering is locked. Tilt is also locked.

I removed the steering arm and the nut on the side opposite the arm connection. I tried to pound the steering cable through. No luck. The opening where the steering arm goes closed. I then cut the cable on the other side with a sawzall. Then I tried to pound the cable through from the other side. No luck. Then I figured I would move on and cool off and ask your help.

I then wanted to get the tilt moving. The outboard has a screw marked manual and something else. I put a screwdriver on it and tried my best and it would not budge. I then tried to go the other way figuring it may move a little then free the vale up. Same result. The pistons do go through the middle unit. I am thinking if I take the nuts off of the pistons, then I should be able to pick the outboard up and then block it and remove the tilt to work on it.

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Good news...

I started by driving the cut off cable an inch one way, then soaking with penetrating oil, then driving the other way. After about ten times each way, the cable came through. Now to craigslist and ebay to find a used cable.

As for the tilt, funny one here. I put a good battery in the boat and the tilt works. Guess we do not really need the manual release anyway.

I then got my key from my other pontoon with a yamaha set of controls. Same key . I put some two stroke gas in the intake, vroom.....heck yea

I do have another question though. What is the best way to get a key for an ignition if you lose it? Ignition and controls are Yamaha. Best to buy a complete ignition or buy keys?

Thanks as always.

You will have to go to your local Yamaha dealer with the keys,...if NO number is on the key...the switch should have one.

Good work on the other stuff

TMD

I bet they are leaning more towards a new switch right?

TMD

Well to update you on the progress. I cleaned the plugs with starting fluid. Let them dry. Cleaned out gas tank and put in a gallon of fresh fuel and some yamalube. Charged the battery, put in the key and whamo, it started.

I have since completely gutted the boat and put on new decking, carpet, and sides. I also put a new helm on....

Now my latest problem.

I had to pretty much disconnect every connection for the engine. There were three gauges. Tilt, RPM and Speed. All genuine Yamaha gauges. I am eliminating the gauges all together. A 25 year old outboard does not really need gauges for tilt.

I have connected the wires from the 703 controls to the outboard. On the outboard side there was a round connector with 15 or so pins. No way to mess this up. On the controls side, I matched all of the color coded wires.

I crank fine. Neutral safety switch works fine. Tilt clicks but does not really move in either direction. I have tried jumping it at the solenoid and it clicks and moves a small amount (1/2").

I have no spark to the wires. I have one of those light testers and it does not glow.

I do have the manual with the wiring diagram, but didnt get into testing anything. Any idea where is best to start? Not sure if something went south after the plug back in or if I crossed a couple wires. All of the wires are color coded and I wrote down that all I needed to do was match colors.


Thanks for any help.

Lanyard is where I would start.

TMD

Tested the rectifier. Continuity only where supposed to be.

Choke is working. We crank. We do not crank when in gear.

Have removed and re-hooked up every wire multiple times.

Wish there was a way to check the ignition. Manual tells you how to remove it to check, but not how to check.

not sure what you mean by that....

should I be testing at the switch or before the cdi or at wiring harness?