135 hp Mercury Black Max Wont Start on Dads Boat

[lebeau3d]

I have my dad's boat. It has a 135 Mercury Black Max (1989) A couple of months ago it was running ok. Now it wont start. It has fuel, I am pushing in the key to start and the kill switch is up.

I did replace the primer bulb a couple of weeks ago.

Last time I had it on the lake it would start and run. Except when you would first run it it would bog down when throttled. After you stopped to fish for a bit it seemed to run ok.

I have had it kinda start just a couple of times. But for the past few days, it would just crank, and crank. Not fireing I guess. I think I am smelling fuel after minutes of trying to start it.

Other info:
Someone mentioned that a float was getting stuck when I was at the dock. And my primer bulb was bad. So I replaced bulb.

After I put it in the water it would start after a few cranks, again, sometimes it would bog down when throttled. Id turn it off, and re start. Sometimes that would help. Other times I would have to let it sit for a bit and then try again and it would be fine.

Again last time I was out It started right away, it did bog down and then cleared up. We fished a spot for a bit and then it started up fine and drove fine. Second and thrid spot it started and ran fine. Last spot could not get it started - trolled all the way back to the ramp. Got it to fire once while squeezing the primer bulb and turning key at the same time. But that was with the old primer bulb. But un able to start with new primer bulb.

I really want to get her going before dad comes down in the fall. I dont know a whole lot about boat motors and dont really have alot of $ to take it to a shop.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Chris1956]

Dumb question....did you install the new primer bulb, with the arrow facing the engine? Second question....does it have spark at this moment?

 

[lebeau3d]

I did check the primer bulb and the arrow is facing towards the motor. I can't be certain that there is spark. I tried to touch the plug to the motor and crank it but I did not see a spark. I think the motor might be coated in a thin paint. So I scraped a tiny portion of the paint off and tried to lay the plug on that spot. DId not see a spark. But then again, I am not holding the plug to the bare motor. Its just laying there. I dont want to get shocked Thanks for helping me.

 

[Texasmark]

Put the case of the plug against the engine block. You won't get shocked if you keep it against the block. But if you are holding it without touching and crank then you can. In daylight sometimes the spark is hard to see. But usually you can hear a snap when it fires. Or leave the plug in the block, wire connected in the normal run fashion and put a timing light on it. If it fires you have spark.

Mark

 

[lebeau3d]

Okay thanks I did that yesterday, but again it was just laying there. I didnt see a spark. Assuming there is no spark, any thoughts of where to start trouble shooting?

Thanks!

 

[lebeau3d]

Ok - I am not getting spark. I tried too different plugs touching the motor. Hmmmm what to do, what to do?

 

[Texasmark]

Get a manual. You can lease time on this site from Seloc who make manuals (see upper right corner of this page). You pay for access to the whole manual for your engine. I have both Merc manual and Seloc manual viewing time. I like the Seloc better; more pictures and better detail in their explanations. You are probably going after a problem in the "stator" under the flywheel where the triggers that start the spark generation cycle are located.

Mark

 

[lebeau3d]

Figures it could be something expensive. :-(