Merc 115 no start

[Hydra Sport]

Went to start my boat turned the key heard a click then nothing. turned the key then nothing. Changed the battery then nothing. Load tested the batteries and they were fine. turned the fly wheel and nothing no click nothing. Safety switch was not engaged. My son had it out last and said it was ok. it had been acting up and I was having to quick shift it into gear before it would die last time I had it out. It's a given that the carbs need some work but this sounds electrical. HELP !! I need to get this going without a huge investment. By the way this is an inline 6 from 86.

[eurolarva]

Start by checking all battery connections including grounds. They should be tight and free of corrosion. Use a file or sand paper to clean them till they shine. This would be all connections to the battery, solinoid and the starter. If that does not improve the starter spinning try jumpering across the solinoid to the starter.

Sounds like your starter is at the end of its life. If that is the case first off try taking it apart and cleaning it with WD 40 or contact cleaner then reassemble it by tieing the brushes and springs in place with mono fishing line and cut once the cover is over the brushes. Hopefully it is just carbon crud making the springs not work in the starter. A aftermarket starter costs about 150 dollars. Most the time cleaning them will make them work again.

[Hydra Sport]

Thanks euro, what do you think about the coil as a possibility ? I'll definitely be jumping the selenoid first chance I get. We'll see what the starter does to

[eurolarva]

If your starter is not turning then the coil is not causing that problem If starter spins and no start I would then go to testing each spark wire for a spark. If you have water muffs a dead cylinder should still allow motor to run and even sound normal. Then by putting it in the water like a lake or test tank the back load would probably bog it down. If your starter is shot and is barely turning the flywheel the motor will not fire.

[efgh]

Use a jumper across the two posts on the soinoid, if the starter spins like normal, the soinoid is bad, get a new one.