1972 mercury 80hp starting issues, please help me save my baby.

[colinwalsh]

Re: mercury 80 hp turning over but will not fire- VIDEO INCLUDED

Re: mercury 80 hp turning over but will not fire- VIDEO INCLUDED

This little saga began on December 18th and this is the sixth thread you've started. Do you know why it isn't fixed yet? Because instead of following the given advice, you drop it and start a new thread.

I got into the one you started on April 4th and gave some possibly erroneous advice because I didn't have the history in one thread and you dropped that one too. On December 28th you were asked to check your timing belt. Did you, you never replied? But you keep starting new threads.

Stop starting new threads and answer the questions! And read the forum rules, especially:

11. Please do not post multiple threads in multiple forums about a single problem. This is confusing to those trying to help you. Multiple threads in the same forum about the same issue are also confusing. If you want help fast, one thread in the most closely related forum is the best way to get it.

You keep posting multiple times in the same forum. Stick to one thread if you want help. We are trying to help you, but you aren't helping us.

I do all the advice. I only started new threads in the hopes of finding new advice of what to do with the not running issue. I have dont everything mentioned accept trying to replace the trigger. I will purchase one this week and hopefully that will fix the issues. since the beginning of this thread I have done the following:

-replaced spark plugs
-checked spark on all plugs, good.
-checked compression on all plugs, good.
-replaced a very faulty internal wiring harness. (prior one was smoking out of the ground)
-removed and checked the starter, good contact on all points. cleaned the connections.
-no missing teeth on the distributor belt as suggested.
-I have opened the throttle when trying to start also, same issue
-battery is fully charged and the wiring harness was replaced in september.


My apologies for the numerous posts and not replying back to the helpful suggestions. I was under the impression that by starting new threads I would attract new suggestions. Thanks for the help and I will now try to mess with the screw on the distributor after work.

thanks again

Colin

 

[racerone]

Re: 1972 mercury 80hp starting issues, please help me save my baby.

If you start adjusting things on this motor you could end up with more trouble.-----You need to be 100% sure of what you are adjusting on these motors !!!

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1972 mercury 80hp starting issues, please help me save my baby.

Don't buy a trigger. At least not yet, anyway. Don't mess with anything. Let things set as they are. If you start cranking on adjustments all baselines are gone. Lets get some recap info from you. I'll skip a few things.

What were the compression readings? Don't say they're good. Give us the numbers.

You said no missing teeth on the timing belt - good. But have you checked timing?

Do you have a manual? That really should have been question #1 months ago. We can tell you things to do, but a manual has the procedures.

Let's start off fresh, OK?

 

[achris]

Re: 1972 mercury 80hp starting issues, please help me save my baby.

If you are getting spark on all 4 cylinders, then you don't need a new trigger.

 

[colinwalsh]

Re: 1972 mercury 80hp starting issues, please help me save my baby.

Don't buy a trigger. At least not yet, anyway. Don't mess with anything. Let things set as they are. If you start cranking on adjustments all baselines are gone. Lets get some recap info from you. I'll skip a few things.

What were the compression readings? Don't say they're good. Give us the numbers.

You said no missing teeth on the timing belt - good. But have you checked timing?

Do you have a manual? That really should have been question #1 months ago. We can tell you things to do, but a manual has the procedures.

Let's start off fresh, OK?

I do have a manual. and the last time we did the compression it read between 100 - 106 to my knowledge, I will check the compression again this evening. I will also take some photos of my trigger to show you the issue that makes me want to replace it.

Thanks again.


-Colin

 

[colinwalsh]

Re: 1972 mercury 80hp starting issues, please help me save my baby.

also we could not get a constant reading when trying to time it. kept jumping around and was hard to pinpoint. if a video is in order I can also do that.

 

[bietau85]

Re: 1972 mercury 80hp starting issues, please help me save my baby.

If you cant get a constant reading on time you have an issue. Im no pro on outboard advice as I am new to this also. But basic spark timing and having a constant carries over from all motors. Erratic spark is garbage so maybe someone would chime in on that issue. I had an issue like that on a motorcycle and it was the CDI. I noticed someone metioned that earlier about CDI but nothing was mentioned much after that. Is your distributor cap clean of heavy carbon? Rotor carbon free? I use electrical cleaner aerosol on all my distributor caps and rotors on tune ups. Also how about a possibility of old bad plug wires grounding out? Just because u get spark at a plug doesnt mean your wires all always good. You losing your constant spark at timing could be a random ground out at the wires. Best time to check that is at night if your outside or in garage with lights off and have someone crank the motor while you look at wires for a spark hitting the motor block. It happens. Also one more thing, check for a good connection on all wire boots, especially the one on the coil/pulsar too distributor. My coil wire looked good but the interior wire strands were corroded. Just my 2cents,