Turns over when I turn the key on!

[Beater]

Hi my 1979 merc 140 turns over when in the on position.I don't have to turn to the start position, just on. I'm thinking solenoid but thought I'd ask here. Also if it is the solenoid do you just take out the two bolts on either side to remove it. It almost looks like those bolts are part of the fuel system. Anyway any help would be appreciated.

 

[erniex]

Re: Turns over when I turn the key on!

Sounds like an ingnition switch.

 

[Beater]

Re: Turns over when I turn the key on!

I never really thought of the ignition switch. The motor and controls sat for 7 years but worked fine for the first few times out. Perhaps the contacts need cleaning. Has anyone else had this problem? Seems odd.

 

[jheron]

Re: Turns over when I turn the key on!

I had the exact same problem ... the red wire in the controll box was shorting to ground, all the insullation was rotted off I used liquid electrical tape to fix it up <br />Jon

 

[Beater]

Re: Turns over when I turn the key on!

Well I guess I'll pull the ignition and check it out. Any other suggestions would also be welcome.

 

[Rovernaut]

Re: Turns over when I turn the key on!

Often the wires in the control box are stripped of the main insulating sheath to only use the smaller insulated wires inside the control box as the are easier to bend around from their entry point to the controlbox and aound it's workings to the installed ignition switch postion. They can somtimes fray and short out against one another.

 

[Clams Canino]

Re: Turns over when I turn the key on!

Use an ohm meter at the connector plugs, you don't have to pull anything to sort this out.<br /><br />-W

 

[Beater]

Re: Turns over when I turn the key on!

Just an update. It was indeed a wire but not rotten, broke off. The guy that fixed it took the controls apart and fixed the wire, bought a tach harness and hooked it up and charged me 80.00 parts and labour. Hardly worth my effort to do it myself! He's a marine mechanic that works on the side on his off time so it's great having him on hand!