'84 Merc. 150 - Won't Crank Anymore

[MAtkins]

I'm working on my '84 Mercury Black Max 150 XR2.
It's been running rough but started without TOO much trouble and if I could get it to plane it runs @ about 50 mph.

I learned that I should do a de-carb procedure.
But, before I learned that I disconnected the remote control wires expecting to have to tear it down to inspect the cylinders.

Now it won't crank over at all.
I'm getting over 12 V. to the 'wiring block'.
When I turn the key on and push it in I hear a click.
The 'enricher' definitely works, I can smell the gas if I leave it in.
When I turn the key over to start it I hear a distinct (slightly louder) click but the starter never tries to crank the motor.

I've got a Seloc manual on it but it's pretty bad for trying to troubleshoot stuff.

How can I determine what is wrong?

 

[MAtkins]

Re: '84 Merc. 150 - Won't Crank Anymore

What is this switch? I'm really looking for the Neutral Start Switch that keeps the motor from starting when the drive isn't in neutral.

I'm looking for anything that might have gone wrong.
I'll try jumping the solenoid switch tomorrow and see if it tries to crank.

 

[MAtkins]

Re: '84 Merc. 150 - Won't Crank Anymore

well, I'd still like to know what that switch is but I did solve my problem.

Once I was able to identify the starter solenoid, I was able to verify voltage to its control when I tried to crank.
That means the solenoid is bad right?

In this case, not exactly.
There are nuts on the 2 contact (bigger) posts that feed the voltage to the starter when the solenoid is triggered.
The nuts that hold the wires screw down on top of these ones with the wire connector sandwiched between them.

They had come loose.
I tightened them down and put voltage to the control posts (the little ones).
I tested continuity across the contact posts and got it.

I put it all back together and now the motor cranks again with no $$ investment.

 

[drtyTshrt]

Re: '84 Merc. 150 - Won't Crank Anymore

Tell yellow/red wire should be the neutral safety

 

[MAtkins]

Re: '84 Merc. 150 - Won't Crank Anymore

Tell yellow/red wire should be the neutral safety

The wire coming off that switch is yellow->black stripe, not red.

 

[canoemang]

Re: '84 Merc. 150 - Won't Crank Anymore

From those picts i would clean all of your connections to save you anymore headaches down the road.

I think that switch is the enricher.. does it have 2 fuel lines coming to it?