Merc 125HP on a 1996 Trophy, no spark and would not start before that

[gica]

So it was taken out last week and it died right at the LiveBait shop. Several attempts were made to start and it would start and then die. The owner did the compression test which showed 120s across but did not ground the cables so now it has 2 problems. There is a no spark condition on top of the start and die one. I did open up the fuel pump and found only a slightly bent clear circle piece(don't know the name)on one of the check valves. I flipped it around and it seems to sit better. Ordered a kit for it. But diaphragms were ok.
I did find a video that shows the steps to test the no spark issue. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Engine looks like the picture.

 

[Faztbullet]

That video wont help as your motor has CDM modules

 

[The Force power]

That video wont help as your motor has CDM modules

He's not sure; what (year) he has
BTW the picture posted is not from his motor

 

[richw46]

New thought:
Have you checked the kill switch circuit? On the switch box there should be a connection with 2 black w/yellow stripe wires. One is for the kill switch on the helm control, the other goes to the rev limiter, if your motor has one. Disconnect each one and try cranking it.

If there is no spark on any of the cylinders I would suspect the switch box or stator. Mercury recommends replacing both because if either one is bad it can damage the other. I had the stator go bad on my 1995. It would start and run normally after a lot of cranking, then it would start only when the engine was literally cold, then it wouldn't start at all. I put a timing light on the cylinders and I was getting spark, but not enough, very weak.(Lisle makes an inexpensive spark tester, available on Amazon.) I replaced both and it's back to normal.

 

[gica]

Yeah it is not my boat, it is a 1996 model, with a Mercury 125hp outboard.
For some reason I did not get notifications on the responses here. Sorry for the late post.

 

[gica]

Ok these are the pics.

 

[richw46]

I don't get the notification either. I have to check from time to time.

That 1996 125 looks identical to my 1995 115.

 

[gica]

So is this video good for that engine?

 

[richw46]

I visited this site 3 years ago and he does a good job of explaining the tests. He has what appears to be a 115 1995 model Mercury. Yours may be slightly different in the actual readings but should be close.

 

[gica]

Ok thanks I will try it out and post results