Marc 200 20 hp no spark...

[ab2376]

Have a 74 model (serial # 4056844) ran great last year. At that time it was set up as tiller and the key switch had a meltdown last summer, since then I have bought remote controls and switched it back to it originally was. Got everything installed and trying to start it up it turns over extremely well but never fires...just for giggles I unplugged the wire harness from side of engine and tried the auxiliary pull start...a few pills and it fired up, BUT upon staring it was like it was almost wide open AND in gear! The shifter on port side was in neutral...so what could be goin on with that?

 

[flyingscott]

Are you sure it was in gear? Not uncommon for the prop to spin in neutral especially if the motor is racing. Go back through your wiring, the engine not starting is probably in the wiring harness. As far as the motor racing, the throttle cable could be adjusted incorrectly, or the cables themselves are reversed. Easy to check if the motor is in gear put it in neutral and go back and spin the prop if it spins both ways you are not in gear.

 

[ab2376]

Well I had it in a 50 gallon trash can full of water and it blew water 20 ft in the air when it started and left about a foot in the bottom lol I know the cables aren't reversed as I adjusted the shift cable and now have it idling and running smooth, so my problem has to be in the harness then right? How in the heck am I supposed to get to it it's a molded in plug? Nothing is ever easy for me lol

 

[flyingscott]

Definitely sounds like the cables are out of adjustment. I would start with the key switch to find out why you have no spark.

 

[ab2376]

Really? I never thought of that, I guess I assumed it would have been a problem in the plug....cables are good niw...just had to tweak the shifter cable backwards a couple turns to insure that it is solidly in neutral. I will check out the key switch to see if there are any broken wires or something

 

[flyingscott]

The fact that it started racing and was in gear tells me the cables are misadjusted. Did you get the key switch new or is it used.

 

[ab2376]

No Title

I can't explain the engine racing that first time but since then I have idled it perfectly for over an hour and haven't touched the throttle cable. The key switch is an old one that was in the mercontrol I purchased...the whole harness is in rough condition...it is more than long enough for my application and I stripped back to get to good wiring, and wow even the wire up in the insulation is extremely brittle, and insulation just crumbles. Sooooo I guess I have to replace it all...that sucks I was planning on trying it out tomorrow lol

 

[flyingscott]

That wiring is very typical of those era mercs. The insulation is brittle and just falls off as it got old better to replace the wiring..

 

[ab2376]

Yeah...as much as I hate the thought of it I'd say that's my problem lol

 

[merc850]

First you should replace the wires that go to the neutral switch and choke if they're bad these are soldered on and easy to do; use electronic solder that has flux and a 25watt (approx.) iron. If the wire bundle going to the switch is sketchy just cut it back one foot and strip and solder matching the colors.

 

[ab2376]

Well all wires are bad. Can I replace the ignition switch with a modern push to choke switch and eliminate the choke button?