Thread: Mercury 150 starting mystery

I have a 1993 Mercury 150 outboard motor that always starts and runs great and pulls my boat with ease.I use it alot with no problems at all, but all of a sudden the other day I go to the lake and it wont start or hit period.I take it home and check several things and find nothing other than a possible problem with my gas bulb/connection on engine.Tried to start again with zero success. My question is, on a Mercury 150, is it possible that the starter bendix not disengaging or dropping back down have any built in way of auto shutting down my engine and/or keeping it from starting? I did several things to my motor checking different stuff with no success but right after I noticed the starter bendix staying up I oiled the bendix and broke it loose and it stays down unless power is supplied now.I dont see how this may of been my issue, but right after this was taken care of, my motor snaps on and runs like a champ again just as it always did before.Would like to hear from some of you motor guys who would know the answer to this for sure.Dont seem possible but I have no other explanation for the sudden fix on my motor.Thanks GCF.

Gotta be somebody out there who knows.Motors running great still.

check your kill switch. may have been bumped to off

If you didn't accidently activate your kill switch, check for spark at all cylinders and let us know what you find.

There are grounds under the cowling that could cause a no spark condition. If one had some corrosion under it or was loose then you bumped it while oiling the bendix that could be it.

I would just let her bump. I've learned that if you mess with something enough you'll eventually find something wrong and then it will bug you. LOL

I also put a light grease on my bendix every so often to keep it moving freely and free of corrosion.

I second the kill switch. Happened to me this weekend and wasted a couple hours messing with the motor and spark plugs before I realized the kill switch had been bumped.

My boat has a 1986 75hp merc. It left me stranded at oak island in the icw, just died perdy as you please. No fire to the plugs. One mechanic told me it was the stator so I put on a new one. Still would'nt hit a lick. Took it to another guy and it turned out to be the power pack. Maybe yours will be less costly.Good luck.jtb