howdy all - i have a 1979 (i'm pretty sure) merc 140. took it out for first time of season, ran good, but i shut it off in the middle of the lake and when attempted to re-start battery was next to dead....i thought. it simply will not turn ove. starter clicks and engages but not even one rotation. so i pull started it with the emergency rope and got it running, and ran good again, but no crank when shut-off again. i'm guessing by that the stator is working or it wouldn't run, rectifier failed? i pulled the battery out tonite and will test at work tomorrow (i'm a heavy duty mechanic) to make sure its good, but i think it is. before i pulled it out i checked it and had just a little over 12V. i put connect battery to booster/charger at crank setting and still nothing. i'm wondering if starter no good. so i pulled starter, will check it and battery tomorrow - anybody know what kind of amperage a starter like this will draw with no load? if battery and starter seem okay, any ideas on what to check next? i checked cables and connections and all look good? maybe solenoid? thanks to anybody with any ideas.....
