O/B flywheel jammed

[mikeg]

Hi all,
I had a good solo daysail in our 19 yesterday, but not before I had to ask a powerboater for a tow out from our marina due to failure of my 6hp Merc. 4-stroke to start.

I had the motor in neutral (and checked to confirm this several times) but the flywheel was apparently blocked, and the start rope was not allowed to be pulled for some reason.

I'm sure there's some new fangled (the motor's a 2002) mechanism that's interfering or something, but no clue what it'd be. She was in the start throttle position, in neutral, bulb primed, prop free and clear, etc.

Any ideas?

BTW, the PB'er graciously pitched in after I actually attempted to sail the Compac out of the fuel dock/ramps area...but with only 80 feet max width north to south (with an east wind), I couldn't get enough way on to get efficient tacks, and to get past the last stinkpot pier. It was actually pretty hairy trying to tack her at all (as I approached farside stinkpots/houseboats) so thank God all property is in one piece. I won't try that again. My last boat was a dinghy, and it would put way on in a hurry, and tack like lightning- but now I know the Compac won't!

Mike
s/v Freebird- Compac 19

[pelican]

I have never owned a Mercury... But Evinrude/Johnson motors have a safety pawl that engages and disengages stop lugs on the underside of the starter pulley and linked to the shift/ throttle lever. If the motor is in gear, it will not allow you to start the motor. I would think, Mercury would have a similar setup. ( I could be wrong)

If there is a problem in the linkage,( something loosen or broke) this can prevent you from starting the motor. Look under the tiller and see if the linkage is intact. If it is intact, turn the throttle slowly while pulling lightly on the starter cord. The motor may free up when the throttle/ shift lever is slightly off the start position. Sometimes they get a little off their start mark before the dog frees the motor.

If the motor is not froze up due to some other reason, like burned up. This is a fairly common problem and a simple fix. The dog can be disabled, but this is not a good idea since the motor can start in gear. The problem will most likely be in the linkage to the dog or the dog itself . Good luck

Terry

[mikeg]

Great Terry. I'll try this.  The dockside assistant at the marina seemed to think the throttle might have something to do with it- but we didn't try the actual moving the throttle while trying to pull the start handle. Worth a shot.

Also the motor does have a pawl over top of the flywheel, that's linked to the gear shift (to prevernt starting in gear). Probably a linkage problem.
Mike

[pelican]

Let us know how it goes...... I can now say, I have a Mercury outboard.. I had a friend come by today and he gave me two old outboards. One happens to be an early 50s Mercury...My wife was a little upset when I dragged them home to join the several others in my shop... As I told her.. I am going to get it running real soon and mount it on that vintage wood sailboat after I replace the transom and decks...... someday

[mikeg]

Terry,

We used to have a '56 Johnson seahorse at our lake place in northern Minnesota. Those classic old motors are such treasures in these days of high tech 'stuff'. Good for you for hanging on to some of that nostalgia.

Mike

[Craig Weis]

Samre as every body already posted.

In gear, reverse, fwd, But not in N.

In a 'pulled-up' position. Just off the mounting bar that controls the angle of thrust. If I try to pull my motor after tilting it out of the water. I can't do it.

Turned too far port to starboard, I can't pull it. Motor straight on with mount.

Check under motor cover and figure out...
1~Where the bar is that stops the pulley from turning when tugging on the starting rope.
2~Work back from there and follow the mechanical linkages.
Something might be no longer tied into the 'Ralph Nader' type safety system.

Boy I hate 'Ralph Nader stuff' it always upcuffs and cause heart ache. All to protect the unthinking public. Trying to make it idiot proof. Darn law suits. My friend has a 6 hp Mistibeschie [sp] outboard that can only start in dead slow throttle position. Ever try that on a cold morning?

From a post about Nader...Why would one think of exploding Pinto's? Arguably the worst car Detroit ever screwed together...actually I purchased a Mercury Capri from a woman who was sure her daughter was going to be toast in this car.
I took this car road racing [SCCA~Show Room 'C'] for years...rolled it over once. Drove it to town had a new wind screen put in it and raced the next day, Sunday. Years later I retired it.

Then sold it to a young man going to school. Lightly, low miles used. "Oh those holes? Those were for the roll bar...what? Oh I didn't say anything, errrrrr, just now, sir"...skip

[pelican]

Ralph Nader.... I just had a flash back of riding around in the very explosive Ford Pinto LOL

[mikeg]

Thanks for the tips Skip.
Yeah, over-safety'ing (Nader'ing) sailboats and equipment is a little 'overboard'. Sailing by its nature (like most everything else in life) requires just good old common sense. Self-safety and prudence the name of the game.
Best,
Mike

[Craig Weis]

Morning Mike, happy spring! Rain and 35 deg F. Won't be long now...the do-gooders in calf. want sailers to ware helmets when on the water. Something about 'booms' What a bunch of stupid people. skip.

[B.Hart]

Helmets on sail boats, now I have heard it all!

[mikeg]

Skip and B. Hart,
You guys are both right about California/sailing helmets. I trust myself not to turn my brain to scrambled egg by first being smart and simply staying aware when sailing. Any activity that's fun can probably be at least somewhat dangerous too. It's about using judgment and sense.

Don't need no danged laws in this regard. Helmets on a sailboat (if required) are the height of obsurdity. If one chooses to use one, I think that's fine...but I doubt many sailors (if any) do wear one.

Speaking of which, before we bought our Compac 19, I bought the backissue of the first issue of Small Craft Advisory, which has a review of the boat. And lo and behold, there is a picture in the article of a couple sailing a 19 while wearing helmets. To quote a word from my generation, they, IMO, looked like total and absolute "geeks". But that's just me.

Mike G.
s/v Freebird -Alachua, FL