Stuck starter - key issue?

[hodgejr]

Hi, I was starting up my 50hp Merc yesterday and to my chagrin, the starter would NOT stop cranking, despite pulling the key out of the ignition. The only way I could shut it off was yanking a battery terminal.

The key seems to turn in either direction, so I'm thinking it could be the wiring inside the ignition, a bad contact perhaps. Any ideas here? Could it be easily fixed or is worth pulling it off and buying a replacement ignition? I'm not very handy, if that helps. :redface:

This is a 2001 Bayliner Capri 160.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Stuck starter - key issue?

There are only two possibilities I can think of. Bad ignition solenoid or bad ign key. Disconnect the thin yellow/red wire at the starter solenoid and then reconnect the battery. If the starter spins, the solenoid is bad. If not, touch the yellow/red wire(key out of ignition) to its terminal and see if the starter spins. If it does, the keyswitch is bad.