Help with an old motor

[minom0n]

I have a couple questions, I have an old Merc 850 serial # 7010505. I ordered the service manual for it but still don't know the year. I do know it's Canadian. Also it wouldn't start and I discovered a cracked ignition rotor, which I replaced along with the distributor disc, but I still don't seem to get a spark. I did see one spark while cranking it trying to troubleshoot, but nothing consistent, and the way the manual shows to test the other ignition parts, eg. trigger, switch box, coil, all involve a spare trigger, which I do not have. Are there any other ways to test these components to see what I nee to replace?

 

[dolluper]

Re: Help with an old motor

Hi Welcome to Iboats <br />Your motor is a 1973

 

[Laddies]

Re: Help with an old motor

To ck your switch box and coil simplely turn on the ign switch ck for 12 volts on the white wire on the switch box on the 4 stud side, this will prove the ign and boat harness are OK. then install a jumper between the Brn and White stud on the other side of the box, then arc the black to ground and if you have fire it is the trigger thats bad if not it's probably the switch box--Bob

 

[minom0n]

Re: Help with an old motor

Thanks! that worked, so it looks like I need a new trigger. Anyone know where I can get working one cheap?

 

[Laddies]

Re: Help with an old motor

Rapair Electronic's or Merc if you can find a used one, buy the hole dist housing and make sure they at lest guarentte it to run

 

[Clams Canino]

Re: Help with an old motor

Try Ebay too, search on "mercury outboard distributor". Most of the vendors out there sell a whole distributor for about 1/2 of what Mercury gets for a trigger.<br /><br />I have a funny feeling you already did that though, and I'm just late catching on.<br /><br />-W