TOPIC: Mercury Kill Switch

As most know there is a mercury switch in the ignition system of the early 6 cylinder motors that kills the motor when the engine is tilted up past a certain point. On my '63 1000 it is mounted on the port side of the motor.

How does this switch function? I assume that when the motor tilts, the mercury in the switch moves over creating a connection that shorts the primary coil circuits to the block.

Am I close?

you are on the money.if it becomes defective you can take it apart and remove the mercury. so it still looks the same.

Cool. I have mine out of the circuit right now. I suppose I should put it back in now that I have the ignition working satisfactorily