TOPIC: late 60's Merc 9.8 not starting

Bought a kicker for the mfg as a backup. Dave said it he started it before he shipped it to me. But i can't get her started.

New fuel, new plugs, starter fluid, and pulling till my arm is about to fall off!

It's getting fuel, i can see the new plugs are wet when i take them out. I opened the bowel to see if the float was stuck, and it's not. ( check that earlier, thought maybe shipping it got stuck )

I've laid the plug against the block but don't see a spark, but with it jumping around when i pull it's hard to see. Had the wife look too, but she didnt' see. So i tried my inline tester, nada.

The kill switch wouldn't be causing it? When you stop it from running do you just hold it in, or is the button not a momentary button?

Would it being turned upside down during shipping cause any problems?

First thing to do is go buy a spark tester and test

www.harborfreight.com/90-inline-ignition-spark-checker-69023.html


Then unplug the kill switch and test

If no spark then give us model and ser # for in the 60s there were many changes on the Ignition systems.

Note. My 9.8 has the push to kill and a toggle switch

I have an inline tester, and it ain't lighting!

Serial is 1987549 model 110

i'll disconnect the kill switch. I don't see a toggle. Where is it on yours?

Still no joy after pulling out the kill switch.

I don't have a flywheel puller to fit this, so i'll go get one and have a look at the points, condensor, etc...

Points... Dave Bernard helped me out, THanks Dave!

The points were a little dirty. Pulled the flywheel and tested the points, they had a lot of resistance across them so i cleaned them with an emery board and the resistance dropped to all but 0. Got spark and fired up.

It would only run for a few seconds until i put the gas tank up on level with the motor. Runs like a top!

All the electronics under the flywheel look brand new.