Starting Problems

[jndeere01]

Hey guys,

Newbie here and don't know much out marine engines. I have a '78 Mercury 1150 115hp 6 cyl engine, serial number 5051734 with starting problems.

I recently aquired the motor from a fmaily member that had it for several several years. It has sat for several years without running. Recently like towards the beginning of the year they pulled it out of storage and tried starting it but they could not get it to start. It sounded like them that they were not getting a spark. They had the compression tested on it and it was great compression on all 6 cyl only varied about 4 psi across all 6cyl. The problem I have now that i have it, is that i can not even get it to turn over even by jumping it with my truck battery. I know it has spark because the dist. cap was off wheni turned it over a few times and i can see spark jumping across the terminals in the cap. When i turn the key all i get is a clicking noise at the starter. I pulled the starter off and tested it by hooking it up to a battery and it spins but it does not look as if the gear at the top spins up. But the starter does not engage or spin when hooked up on the motor. Any ideas? Is the stater bad or is it someplace else? Thanks.

Shaun (newbie)

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Starting Problems

Shaun, There must be a ground cable on the starter. It ran from the case of the starter to the top cowling support on the starboard side. The starter is mounted in rubber, so it must have the two cables (+12VDC, ground).

The starter solenoid is on the starboard lower cowling, in the front. It should do more then click when you turn the key. Connect the large terminals with a jumper cable and see if the starter spins. If so, the solenoid or ign wiring is bad.

 

[jndeere01]

Re: Starting Problems

Thank you. I will try that tonight when i get home form work. I will need to reinstall the starter first, i have it pulled off right now. Do i connect to the starter or the solenoid?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Starting Problems

The starter need two cables connected to it in order to operate. the solenoid cable goes on the stud on the starter and is held on with a nut. the ground cable is bolted to the starter.

 

[jndeere01]

Re: Starting Problems

OK guys, here is the lates of what i have tried and found out. I want your opinion on it.

I took my starter to advanced auto and had it tested. It spins just fine and the gear spins up just briefly then slips back down. I am sure if it would engage the flywhell it would stay up. So i brought it home reinstalled it and it just clicked agai. I then brougt out my truck adn hooked the jumper cables to the battery on the truck and then to the starter adn it turned the engine over. When i tried useing the key from the boat i still got just clicking. I took a screw driver and touched the two terminals on the starter solenoid and it truned over again. My guess is the solenoid went bad. Does everyone agree or disagree? Thanks.

Shaun