1973 Merc Eng Starter not working? NEED HELP!

I have a 1973 Mercury Outboard, 650 (65 HP) engine that this year, all of a sudden, the starter doesn't turn. It has the Thunderbolt Ignition package. I've never had problems in the previous 6 years I've owned it. With the battery hooked up, when I turn the key, all I hear is a click coming from the wiring assembly where the 2 main wires from the battery go into, and nothing. The choke button works just fine. I"m not sure what that part is called, but that's where the clicking is coming from. It clicks once when I turn the key, and another time when I let it go.

I'm not too savy as far as 2 cylinder engines go, but everything else works just fine. I've checked all the wires, and from the Owner's Manual, everything apears to be attached. I'm not sure if the starter has gone bad, or if there is another part that might be bad. When I turn the key, the top part of the starter doesn't even pop up and engage the teeth that cranks the engine or whatever.

I can manualy turn it using the emergency starter rope and the engine fires right up..but who the heck wants to do that..hehe

Any sugesstions or help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance...

Re: 1973 Merc Eng Starter not working? NEED HELP!

The fact that you hear a click says the ignition switch is trying to activate the solenoid (source of the click) but the solenoid is not engaging the starter. So here's what you do. If you own a set of battery jumper cables, connect just one of them to the positive terminal on the battery. Touch the other end to the large terminal on the solenoid that has the large cable going to the starter connected to it. Be prepared for a spark and be prepared for the starter to run. If it does, you very likely have a bad solenoid. If this doesn't engage the starter its the starter.

Re: 1973 Merc Eng Starter not working? NEED HELP!

Tellerman, In addition, the starters on the inlines have a ground cable which runs from the top of the starter to the engine case. If this cable goes bad (corrosion or breakage) the starter will not operate.

Re: 1973 Merc Eng Starter not working? NEED HELP!

K, thanks for the tips. I tried the jumper cables trick, and nothing. Come to find out, after taking the starter out, it had siezed up and didn't even turn. It is currently in the shop getting reparied.

Thanks for the replies.

Re: 1973 Merc Eng Starter not working? NEED HELP!

Great advice from silvertip, I used his technique and found my problem to be only the solenoid ($$$ saved) thanks silvertip and all others posting to help others out!
Don