Late 70s early 80s 40hp starting issue

Spotswood

Recruit
Joined
Jun 1, 2015
Messages
1
So my merc is giving me trouble, it is a late 70s early 80s 40hp 2 stroke thunderbolt ignition. It was doing this last year, but stopped this year. I bumped up against a rock on my last trip and suddenly it was doing it again.
When I turn the key it just makes this buzzing sound, won't turn over at all. After moving it in and out of gear, and turning it back and forth eventually it will start, sometimes takes just a couple tries, and sometimes I sit and mess around with it for 10min.
Any ideas what is going on?
 

Chinewalker

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Aug 19, 2001
Messages
8,902
Sounds like a bad connection somewhere, or possibly a bad solenoid. If battery cables and wiring are original to the motor (35-plus years old) they may have corrosion issues.
 
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