Trouble shooting safely - or at least without doing further damage

[molsenice]

I have a 95hp '67 Mercury Outboard serial #2124524. This was running well, but now not will not start. Have charge the batterry and I am getting gas, the mercury switch is disconnected. I seam to remember that checking for spark by removing the plug and holding it against the block will damage the switch box. I need to go through checking for spark and do not want to flub up anything. Any advice?

 

[north40]

Re: Trouble shooting safely - or at least without doing further damage

Go to any parts store and pick up an inline spark checker. Will light up if you have spark. Should be under 10 bucks.

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Trouble shooting safely - or at least without doing further damage

You run the risk of damaging your ignition system if you DO NOT ground the plugs. Do not leave the ignition system without a path to ground thru the sparkplug leads. Remove the plugs and ground them to the block to check for spark or, do as north40 suggested and buy an in-line spark tester.

 

[molsenice]

Re: Trouble shooting safely - or at least without doing further damage

Well Rodc and North40 - put the fully carged battery in and it fired up so fast, you'd of thought it was already running when I got there. - thanks, now have to figure out why it went dead.