1982 Marathon won't stop cranking, or run in reverse.

[SC_Dale]

Just picked up a 1982 Marathon as a project/yard cart. It runs great in forward and works as it should. When I put it in reverse, it cranks over but won't fire and then it keeps cranking even after I take my foot off the gas. I have to move the shift (direction) lever to get it to stop.

Any ideas where to begin the diagnostics?

Thanks in advance...
Dale

[cart around]

For it to keep cranking, the solenoid has to be engaged. I don't see why being in reverse would make a difference.

Just as an experiment....

When it keeps cranking on its own, turn off the key. See if that kills the solenoid.

I'm suspecting a short somewhere around the FnR switch.

Here is a manual you can use.
I'm also thinking there is a hot wire coming from the key switch to the microswitch that activates the backup buzzer. It's located on the driver's side of the FnR switch. Make sure that isn't shorted to one of the big lugs.

[SC_Dale]

Turning the key off did not make it stop cranking.

Using the schematic from the manual you provided (thank you so much!) I found that I was getting power back to the solenoid through the green wire (coil power) and actually from the orange wire coming out of the ignitor through the coil.

Come to find out, somewhere in its past, someone took one wire off the regulator "D-" and put it to "D" of the F & R switch. I corrected the wiring and everything works as it should.

Thanks again for the manual, and the help!

[cart around]

Glad to hear it. You seem to be pretty sharp with wiring. I suspected that the FnR was getting stray power from somewhere, I just didn't know where.