HELP PLEASE!!! 1979 70hp Mercury Starting Problem

[whitnes10]

Hey,

So I just had a mechanic do some work on my old engine for me. It was working last summer but needed some things done. He replaced the lower end, as it needed new seals and it was the cheaper way to go. He also replaced the upper motor mount for me too. He didn't touch the upper unit since everything was working last summer and didn't need to be fixed.

I put it on my boat today and it would not start. When I turned the key over there was nothing, not even a click or sound of some sort. I hooked up the lights just to see if the battery had life and they worked fine. So then I went back and reconnect the outboard and still nothing. I pressed the electric choke button and it gave me a click, but still no noise or attempt to start when I turned the key over.

PLEASE anyone with a thought or idea for me to try would be great! I'm going to try and contact the guy tomorrow for him to help me out, but any help here would be great as well! I just want m engine to work

Thanks so much.

 

[69ebkoskibee]

Check you kill wire or neutral interlock.

 

[Chris1956]

A lot of those Mercs need a ground cable from the starter body to the upper cowling support. The mechanic would have removed the ground cable, when he replaced the upper motor mounts. Maybe he left it off?

 

[whitnes10]

Thanks for the help, I talked to my mechanic and he thinks it's the neutral interlock as well. Heading down to try it out tomorrow and see if I can get her running. Thanks again for your help and suggestions.

 

[whitnes10]

Also, where I'm definitely not a mechanic of any sort, is there a way to describe how to adjust the neutral interlock? Would the 2 shifting cables that go from the controls to the motor have anything to do with that? I know there are different adjustments they can be set at.

 

[Luckymann77]

Hey whitnes10,
No adjustment on the neutral interlock...
Just a switch inside the control box that allows the starter to electrically engage...
The control box is a bit much for a non-mechanic type to screw around with...

Other than the starter relay or the starter itself I can't say what else may be at fault.
You do need a good old school lead acid battery, not a "maintenance free"...

Good luck !!!
Luckymann77

 

[whitnes10]

Hey guys,

Just an update. It was a ground cable that was causing the issue. Fixed the ground cable, then was able to get it to crank over, but wouldn't start. Did some research and some testing and seems like I have a bad/faulty stator. We aren't getting any spark and everything else checked out fine, so looks like I have one more thing to do before I get this back in the water. Hope this is it...