Stupid outboard

[30boat]

Went to the boat today.I carried everything from the car to the ramp ,inflated the Avon, in the 33ºC heat and for the first time the outboard doesn't start.Ok,said I,I'll row,except there was a strong tide against me.I arrived at the boat knackered and sweaty and after hoisting the outboard on board I found that there's no spark.I traced it down to a broken connector.After jury rigging a connection still no spark.I rowed back to the club this time with the tide, thankfully, and after dragging the whole parafernalia to the car in the even hotter afternoon I drove home.Guess what there's a spark after all and it starts first pull.No I don't know if the thing is to be trusted or if I have an intermittent fault.Bugger.

 

[dartmoor]

was it a Parsun or Hidea haha?

 

[30boat]

was it a Parsun or Hidea haha?

Funny! No,it's a 20 year old Mercury.

 

[bikerbill]

Sounds as if there could be a loose wire somewhere and moving the outboard around has somehow made a connection. Have you cleaned the points? Usually if an outboard has been unused for a while, a film can develop over the points that could stop a spark.

 

[VicS]

Does it have points or is it CD. AFAIK all but some of the very smallest Mercs had CD by 20 years ago.

Stop button something to look at.

 

[Lakesailor]

Nothing worse than an outboard you can't rely on.

 

[Chris_Robb]

Same problem here - Suzuki 2.5 4stroke. No spark, not a peeep.

Then I read Vics reply "Stop button something to look at."

Ha ha ha, such a simple explanation - thanks Vics! My son put the outboard away, and I never take the kill cord off - but he did!

 

[30boat]

Does it have points or is it CD. AFAIK all but some of the very smallest Mercs had CD by 20 years ago.

Stop button something to look at.

It has points which makes it easier to fix.The stop button is ok.

 

[capnsensible]

I've taken a number of outboards for a row around harbours (various). They must enjoy it more than I do.