25hp Merc Pull Start Question

[Cordovakid]

I have a 1981 25hp Mercury with manual pull start. For some reason, this motor WILL allow the operator to pull the engine over with the rope start if the motor is in any gear (ie. forward, neutral or reverse). This is normally a safety feature that only allows you to start in neutral. I took a look under the cowl, and noticed that there is an upper lockout latch present, which would normally prevent this type of operation, is not engaging in the "locked" position on the pull start. However, if the throttle is increased approximately 20% from the normal starting position, the throttle cam pulls the upper latch over enough to engage the locking mechanism for a pull start while in gear.

Is something possibly out of alignment with the throttle cam, or can I maybe just reset the latch to move into place at idle throttle?

 

[Texasmark]

Re: 25hp Merc Pull Start Question

I don't know as it has been a long time since I ran a tiller engine. However when starting the engine the normal procedure used to be to put the shifter in N and advance the throttle to start which is about that distance from idle. I don't think I ever attempted to pull start an engine at idle. Pulling is work and I didn't want to work any harder than I had to.

Mark

 

[oldman570]

Re: 25hp Merc Pull Start Question

If the shift is on the tiller, the lock arm should be in the locked position if the shift is moved to ether the FWD or REV position. It should only be unlocked when the tiller shift is in the Netrual/Start position. The linkage on the side of the motor can be adjusted so as can the screw on the lock out arm to set the lock so it can not be started unless it is in netrual. There is a chance that the linkage spring is broken or has lost its tension. If the shifter is on the side of the motor and not the tiller there is linkage from that lever to the lockout that is bad, or the part that in on the lever shaft could have the peg on it broken. We realy need to know the SE# of the motor or a picture of the linkage to be sure to get a real good answer to you. JMO
Oldman570

 

[Laddies]

Re: 25hp Merc Pull Start Question

The starter lockout on a 25HP only works when the throttle is to far advanced not on the shift linkage the arm has a screw on it to adjust for engine RPM. Don't adjust on the side linkage as it's to synchronization, if it has already been tinkered with get a manual and do synchronization

 

[Cordovakid]

Re: 25hp Merc Pull Start Question

I checked the SN of the motor - #7167184 - should make it a Canadian 1980 or 1981 25HP Merc. This is a tiller handle shifter - not on the side of the motor. So, my question is, can (should) I adjust the actual starter lockout latch to correct itself so that it engages as soon as the shift lever is placed into either the forward or reverse gear? This is what I would like to accomplish. I have not adjusted anything on the side linkage as to its synchronization. The linkage spring has not broken or losts its tension - looks OK / springy. I was not aware that there was a screw on the lockout arm itself which can be adjusted. Ideas?

 

[quicktach]

Re: 25hp Merc Pull Start Question

Try adjusting the lockout latch. Is the spring seating properly in a hole? Is there any crud/dirt that can be impeding how the latch moves?

 

[Cordovakid]

Re: 25hp Merc Pull Start Question

The latch and spring move and seat freely. The problem is that when I engage the tiller handle from neutral to forward or reverse, the throttle connecting rods (which move when you engage the throttle) don't "pull" the latch into the locked position until about 15 or 20% throttle, in advance of just moving from neutral to forward. I'm hoping to figure out if I can adjust this latch somehow to engage right when I shift from neutral to forward, so that I (ie. my son) can't accidentally start the engine in gear. I just don't see any way that I can adjust this actual latch - seems like a sealed unit, and I don't want to go messing with the throttle connecting rods / timing, etc.

 

[Laddies]

Re: 25hp Merc Pull Start Question

Read, the lockout is a throttle only latch it was not designed to work as a shift lockout and cannot be adjusted to work as one. Buy a Manual before randomly turning things on the engine if don't believe what your told!