60 HP Mercury Outboard - Starter Problem

[gone2fish]

Hi everyone! I have a 2-cycle 60 HP Mercury outboard. The starter remains engaged as long as there is current to the engine. I disconnected the wires to the engine battery to get it to turn off. That was several days ago. I just checked it again and it still does it. As soon as I touch the battery wires to the terminal, the starter engages. Any thoughts on what is wrong? I'm hoping it's something simple but...?? I'll take it somewhere if it's complicated but if it's fairly simple, I'll do it myself.

Thanks!

 

[GA_Boater]

Welcome aboard.

Unless the starter is wired directly to the battery, the solenoid is the most likely suspect.

Has any work been done on the motor before this popped up?

 

[gone2fish]

Based on some quick google searches I wondered if the solenoid was suspect. No, the engine has not been touched recently. Honestly, I just got this outboard. I have a video of it running perfectly fine just before I picked it up. Is there any way to test to see if it is a solenoid problem for sure or do I just replace it and see if that fixes it?

 

[GA_Boater]

It's also possible the key switch is bad too.

Connect a meter or test light to the wire from the switch on the solenoid and connect the battery. If the meter shows 12 or so volts or lights up, it's the switch. If it's zero volts or no light, it's the solenoid.

The positive wire from the battery goes to one side of the solenoid and the other side of the solenoid goes directly to the starter and is fairly short. Make it is wired like that.

 

[gone2fish]

Thanks! I'll give check that out.

 

[gone2fish]

Ok, so I finally tested the motor. I got 12 volts to either side of the solenoid so it sounds like an ignition problem. Now onto find an ignition and how to change that.

 

[gone2fish]

So from what I'm seeing, you cannot know what ignition you have based on your outboard s/n. How do I determine what ignition I need? TIA

 

[gone2fish]

Anyone have any advice on finding/ordering a new ignition? How do I know what I need? Any help would be much appreciated. I want to get one ordered and coming so I can get on the water.

(from what I can see, my outboard s/n doesn't tell me what ignition I need.)

My ignition is the style that is in the remote control mounted on the right hand side. The choke lever is part of the remote above the ignition key.

 

[GA_Boater]

The key switch is part of the remote control - That's why you can't find it in the motor parts.

One more test - Remove the small wire from the solenoid that goes to the key switch. I think it's a white wire. Connect the battery again to see if the starter runs. If it does, the solenoid is bad. If it doesn't, it's the key switch or wiring between the switch and solenoid.


We have to ID which remote control you have to find the switch. What year is the motor/boat and can you post a picture of the remote?