[dannyboy15151515]

HEY GUYS, need some help diehard merk fan. just obtained said motor on 15 ft alum boat mint cond. no fire! what year model? have been reading an learning on here.serial# eo5629 model#40773e guess points --cond-- coils--maybe ignition swith-- help!! where would you start?

[tx1961whaler]

40773 is a 1967 40 HP.

For no spark, first thing I'd do is disconnect the "kill" wires that come off of the magneto plate if you have them (black ones, one of them goes to the vacuum cut out switch.
If still no spark, then pull the flywheel and check the points and coils. If the coils are original, they are likely cracked and fried. Instructions are in the "Top Secret" file at the top of the forum.

I check out things in this order:
--Compression. Cylinders should be within 10% of each other.

--For electric shifts, I make sure the motor shifts before going any further. It can get real expensive real quick if it doesn't shift. Need to use type C lower unit lube in these electric shifts.

--Spark. Use a spark tester. Should get a fat blue spark

--Carb. The fuel lines need to be changed out with ethanol resistant ones.

--Water Pump impeller

[dannyboy15151515]

thanks very much for the reply. How can you check that the elect. shift works without the engine running, should I be able to hear it when buttons are pushed, motor not running?

[tx1961whaler]

It will shift without the engine running.
Turn the key on.
In neutral, the prop will spin
Shift to forward
The prop should not spin. Don't try to force anything
Shift to neutral, the prop will spin
shift to reverse
The prop should not spin. Don't try to force anything
The prop should also spin with no power on at all.

[Wooz]

Lets say... theoretically, if this was not the case and the prop spun freely in all gears... what would the next step be??