Mercury ignition system

[495v]

Just wanted to check with you guys on a few points. First of all, has anybody ever had any problems trying to copy one of Mercury's keys? It seems everywhere I go either they can't cut it or they cut it wrong.(pretty crazy key) Can you order them directly from Merc? Secondly, I wanted to put some kind of lube in there for the tumbler's. Is this recommended and what should I use?(lithium, wd-40, ?) Thanks for any advice.

 

[ehenry]

Re: Mercury ignition system

I've had a locksmith cut keys for my Merc plenty of times without a problem. As far as lubricating the key switch itself I would use some graphite powder and not any type of liquid lube. As liquid tends to trap airborne grime and grit in the tumblers. Most hardware stores will have graphite podwer.

 

[495v]

Re: Mercury ignition system

Thanks EFHenry. I will pick some up, I was afraid of anything flammable just to be safe. I assume the graphite is non-flammable? I had a locksmith copy the key yesterday and it didn't work. Went back today for another cut, will have to try it out tonight. Thanks again.

 

[ehenry]

Re: Mercury ignition system

Finely ground pencil lead is all it is.

 

[495v]

Re: Mercury ignition system

Will that really work? It's not that I'm cheap but I probably will never use it for anything else and I just need a little for the switch. I'd hate to buy a big tube of this stuff for nothing. Let me know if ground pencil lead will work. Any particular pencil?(no.2, etc.)

 

[ehenry]

Re: Mercury ignition system

It won't be a big tube.....they're kinda small. Besides you can use it on the locks in your house if they get kinda stuborn. It'll only cost a couple bucks. My house has 6 doors going to the outside and they all have deadbolts and knob locks. I keep a tube around the house. A locksmith is who told me to use it instead of WD40 or something like that.

 

[495v]

Re: Mercury ignition system

That's funny, I just talked to a locksmith who was putting a deadbolt on a door here...He told me not to use graphite because it tends to gum up if it gets wet. He recommended either wd-40 or tri flow, I don't remember if he said something with a teflon base or silicone base but one or the other.. It's funny how everybody has a different opinion. Do you personally use graphite on your ignition? It makes more sense than something flammable like wd-40. I think I will stop at the hardware store and check out what they have.

 

[ODDD1]

Re: Mercury ignition system

495v, the mercury keys [alpha numeric or the 3 number]can be bought directly from your merc dealer...like 2 bux a pop...in a salty enviroment stay away from the graphite, will accelerate corrosion....

 

[ehenry]

Re: Mercury ignition system

THere you hace it from ODDD1. I consider him the final authority. What he told me about my 25 H.P. Merc was correct, I don't worry about it anymore and I appreciate it.

 

[495v]

Re: Mercury ignition system

Odd1, thanks for the reply. The boat is not used in a salty enviornment, just frshwater up here in the good ol' Midwest. Should I still go with graphite or something else. I had a locksmith cut me a spare key for $3.00. First one didn't work, second did with a little help by sanding it a bit(almost an exact match now). So what do I use to lube the ignition; Graphite, Tri-flow, wd-40, ?. Thanks for any input.