2001 50HP Mercury 2 Stroke Question
Wimuskyfisherman
Posted 7/16/2012 9:00 AM (#571799)
Subject: 2001 50HP Mercury 2 Stroke Question




Posts: 229


I am having some issues with a 50HP Mercury 2 Stroke. Here they are:

1. When I start it with the electric start, sometimes when I turn the key I hear absolutely nothing. Then I try again and maybe the same thing. Then it fires and starts. Very intermittant and 9 out of 10 times it does not happen.

2. When the motor is not running. The forward and reverse shifter sometimes does not want to move out of neutral into reverse. Most times it does though.

Any help on these would be greatly appreciated.

John
kjgmh
Posted 7/16/2012 9:03 AM (#571801 - in reply to #571799)
Subject: Re: 2001 50HP Mercury 2 Stroke Question





Posts: 1096


Location: Hayward, WI
1. Could be keyswitch, issue with wiring or plugs or solenoid.
2. Don't shif the motor when it is not running unless you are spinning the prop, not ment to be shifted when motor is not running.
Wimuskyfisherman
Posted 7/29/2012 1:05 PM (#574721 - in reply to #571801)
Subject: Re: 2001 50HP Mercury 2 Stroke Question




Posts: 229


Thanks for the help. I have some more info.

Last night when I had it out, when I simply turned the ignition key the motor did absolutely nothing. When I turned it and pushed it in, it turned over and started up. This has not been how this worked the past 10 years. The guy who sold me the boat told me the push in primed the motor and I usually only used at the first start of the day or when it was being a pain to start. I have two questions:

1. What is the function of the push in on the keyswitch?
2. Does anyone have any ideas on what is going bad? I am leaning towards the keyswitch from the previous response but just want some feedback.

Thanks,

John
VMS
Posted 7/29/2012 1:56 PM (#574732 - in reply to #571799)
Subject: Re: 2001 50HP Mercury 2 Stroke Question





Posts: 3508


Location: Elk River, Minnesota
Hiya,

the push in is the choke or primer so you should only have to use that for either cold starts or lengthy periods of time between using the motor during the day (over 3 hours or more sitting time)

As for the intermittent issue, I had that on my old Yamaha 90hp as well. Would be fine for a while, then at times it wouldn't do anything. I believe it may not be your switch, but a sensor solenoid that will only allow the motor to start when in neutral. If that sensor is going bad, (given it has one) that could be the reason your motor will not start. I bet if you run into that issue again, take the cover off and start it by rope, it will start immediately. That is what I had to do with my old yamaha.

For me that was a very weird issue as well. Bothered the heck out of me, and it would come and go with no predictable pattern.

Steve
horsehunter
Posted 7/29/2012 5:12 PM (#574750 - in reply to #571799)
Subject: Re: 2001 50HP Mercury 2 Stroke Question




Location: Eastern Ontario
I had a 85 merc 50 4 cyl for years was a great motor but was cold blooded and usually had to be choked, had problems with the choke solonide it would work 97% of the time and always tested good. About once a month it wouldn't start I would take the shroud off choke it by hand and it would be good for another 4 or 5 weeks.Two different shops said there was nothing they could find wrong. I changed the key switch no help. I used to try the choke in the driveway before heading for the launch down the street. you should hear the choke solonide every time you push in on the key. I saw one guy that drilled a hole in his shroud and mounted a push pull so he could manually choke his motor without taking off the shroud. I never did fix the problem. I now have a 60 Suzuki 4 stroke injected so no fxxxin choke