Boat Repair - How to check a Mercury Force 120 without starter
Expert: Everett Peacock - 2/27/2009
Question I found a Mercury Force 120 1999 outboard, and it has a burned starter.
He said that he sold the engine together with the boat, but the engine was a little tricky to start. He explained that to the new owner but he could not do it well. Instead of that, the new owner burned the starter and then gave it back to the original owner. This is what I was told.
The owner also said that the engine has only 90 hours of use and has never been used in saltwater. If the starter is the only problem the engine has, it will be a good deal for me. I am ignorant in how to test the general state of the engine. Ofcourse a visual inspection will give me a lot of information. I dont want to buy the motor, replace the starter, and then, find that something else is wrong.
Could you please tell me how to check if the engine is OK without buying a new starter just to check it?
i think that I can try to crank the engine connecting in some way a drill to the flywheel or to the propeller shaft. Yes, it is a crazy idea, but maybe it will work. If I survive to that experiment, will tell you about it.
The engine is located at 150 miles from my home, so I can not go and make several checks...
Thanks in advance for your response!
Answer Crank it over with a rope....do a compression check, no more than 15 psi between any two cylinders...pul the spark plugs out and inspect them..while they are out turn the key on and crank by the rope..check for spark on the plugs....crack open the lower unit oil drain plug and check the water in the oil...it all looks good. it is worth the starter...good luck..
