Super User Catch and Grease Posted June 17, 2015 Super User Posted June 17, 2015 Okay so my engine is a 25HP mercury from 1980 I believe, it seems like you cant even pull start it unless the key is turned, well my engine was working fine the day before yesterday and now this morning it turned once or twice then it wouldn't even try to start.... The electric choke also went out so I was maybe thinking that the connection to where the key goes is bad, what else could it be? I'm just looking for any possible things it could be, I know the list is probably long and this isn't the greatest description but I'm just trying to brainstorm... I replaced the sparkplugs, all the fuel lines, fixed multiple fuel leaks, replaced the solenoid, and completely cleaned out the carburetor and replaced all the gaskets. After all that I was so glad I got it running but it seems like everytime I get it running the next day I go out something else craps out. Its pretty frustrating lol.... Edit: oh and BTW it won't pull start ethier, it won't even try to start with the key or rope. Quote
Super User Catch and Grease Posted June 17, 2015 Author Super User Posted June 17, 2015 Also, when I turn the key I can here a click I assume is coming from the solenoid, could this mean my starter is bad? Quote
thomas15 Posted June 17, 2015 Posted June 17, 2015 First thing is to make sure your battery is charged and no other accessories are putting a drain on the battery. Next thing is make sure your throttle is in the neutral position and if you have one, the man overboard cut off switch is in the on or run position. A volt meter is useful, you should have a little over 13 volts at the battery. When you are trying to crank the motor there should be voltage at the starter solenoid, check there. If you don't have a volt meter maybe a friend or neighbor can lend you one? Anyway, you need to find out where you have voltage in the system. Hopefully it is something easy like a drained battery or a lose wire. Quote
SHaugh Posted June 17, 2015 Posted June 17, 2015 As you've guessed there are way too many possible things going on there. small motors like that are finicky beasts... it's all gotta be right or it simply doesn't work. I know it's not what you want to hear but you need a pro. and a checkbook... Quote
thomas15 Posted June 17, 2015 Posted June 17, 2015 Let me add just a general statement. I know it's a PITA when you have troubles with your boat motor. You want to be fishing and not trying to figure out what is next. I would guess that your motor sat for a while before you purchased it and there are a few kinks that need to be worked out. I got my boat late in July of last year and it took me several months to get it running to my satisfaction. I did some of the work and I had two certified Mercury guys look at it. In the end, I solved the problem through sheer determination which turned out to be a combination of several things but the main one being a simple repair that the mechanics that looked at it should have diagnosed it with ease. The problem is that the motor didn't always act up, only when I used it hard. But this isn't a matter of misery loves company. Once you work through all the little bugs in your motor you will soon forget these little setbacks and get to the fishing. So hang in there. 2 Quote
Super User Catch and Grease Posted June 17, 2015 Author Super User Posted June 17, 2015 First thing is to make sure your battery is charged and no other accessories are putting a drain on the battery. Next thing is make sure your throttle is in the neutral position and if you have one, the man overboard cut off switch is in the on or run position. A volt meter is useful, you should have a little over 13 volts at the battery. When you are trying to crank the motor there should be voltage at the starter solenoid, check there. If you don't have a volt meter maybe a friend or neighbor can lend you one? Anyway, you need to find out where you have voltage in the system. Hopefully it is something easy like a drained battery or a lose wire. The battery is brand new and dual purpose, I use it to run the trolling motor and the engine. But this morning the battery was fully charged and I hadn't even pluged the trolling motor in yet and the problems started... I'm pretty sure we have a volt meter laying around, and yes I would love to find out this is just a loose wire or something. I guess when my grandpa gets home later I'll get him to help me out because he is good with electrical mumbo jumbo... Quote
thomas15 Posted June 17, 2015 Posted June 17, 2015 OK that is why a volt meter is useful to figure out where in the system you have voltage and where you don't. Quote
thomas15 Posted June 17, 2015 Posted June 17, 2015 Everyone at sometime or another tries to start their motor with it in gear or with the cut off switch in the off position. 1 Quote
Super User Catch and Grease Posted June 17, 2015 Author Super User Posted June 17, 2015 Everyone at sometime or another tries to start their motor with it in gear or with the cut off switch in the off position. I made sure it was in neutral and the cut-off switch was in the on poistion but I'll double check... That'd be funny if that was all it was. Thanks for the help, ill try what you told me to do and see if I can get any more clues Quote
thomas15 Posted June 17, 2015 Posted June 17, 2015 I'm not familiar with your particular motor but it's possible that there is a cut off on the motor as well as the console? My search and rescue team has a 1990s 20 HP Mercury tiller with a cut off on the motor. Quote
Super User Catch and Grease Posted June 17, 2015 Author Super User Posted June 17, 2015 Turned out that the starter was stuck for some reason, I went out and barely pushed on the starter then it started right up.... Quote
Super User Catch and Grease Posted June 18, 2015 Author Super User Posted June 18, 2015 Well I'm out on the lake right now and there is yet another problem... Another fuel leak somewhere, guess its gonna be another day the trolling motor is gonna have to work double duty lol... Quote
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