1989 Mercury 80hp - Won’t start! (No spark?)

[Liveforthelake]

Hi there,

I’m fairly new to boating, and just got my first boat last year. It’s a 1989 thunder craft with an 80hp mercury 2 stroke outboard (3 cylinder). It was running great until I tried to put it in the water again this year.

Prior to putting it in the water, I tested it out after winterizing with muffs (it was sitting in storage) and started up just fine. When I put it in the water, I overcranked it and killed the solenoid.

Ive been doing hours of research on how to troubleshoot the issue. I’ve gotten the outboard cranking again but now it won’t turn over.

Here’s what I’ve done so far.
Changed soleniod,
emptied fuel bowls of carbs
new fuel filter
Checked fuel for water (it’s clean)
changed spark plugs

I tried checking for spark by taking out the spark plug and cranking the motor and I’m not getting spark in all 3 cylinders. Maybe I’m not checking properly. The trim and battery are working but it just won’t turn over.

I’m not sure where to look anymore. I was told that it could possibly be the power pack but the trim is working so it doesn’t make sense to me that it’s fried.

Any help and advice would be GREATLY appreciated

 

[ThomW]

A lot of questions here. How are you checking spark? Are you pulling plugs and grounding them with a wire? If not, you can't test spark. Best idea is to buy a spark tester, as you need to ensure spark at the proper gap.

When you say it's cranking, but not turning over...what do you mean? When you try and start the motor, and it "turn over" that means the parts are moving. Is it turning over, but just not starting? Meaning you don't have spark, gas, and/or compression?

 

[racerone]

Powerpack has nothing to do with trim working or not !-----Charge the battery, get it load tested.----Take starter apart for inspection.----Inspect battery cables.

 

[bstig60]

There is a good trouble shooting guide at www.cdielectronics.com ... Look up your engine, . Then go to NO SPARK ON ANY CYLINDER.and follow their procedures, this has helped me in the past.