How to Pull Start My Mariner

minuteman62-64

Lieutenant
Joined
Apr 12, 2011
Messages
1,350
Kind of a dumb question, because I really should know this. I've got an '82 Mariner, 30 HP with electric start/remote controls. I've always taken comfort that, in the event of battery failure, I can use the pull start to get back underway. However, I've never actually done this and, thinking about it, don't know how to do it.

So, I'm on the water, been sitting for awhile fishing, and, ready to move on. Turn the ignition/starter key and - nothing.

Do I just go back and pull the cord? Does the ignition key have to be in the "ON" position?

A few years back I had a guy rehab my motor after a 20 year layup. When I picked it up, he wheeled it out on a stand, not hooked up to battery or ignition switch, and pull started it. Unfortunately I wasn't paying attention to what he did. How'd he do that?
 

Sea Rider

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 20, 2008
Messages
12,345
Pull rope with switch set to on and off position and check which position turns motor on. Lanyard must be attached.

Happy Boating
 

minuteman62-64

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Apr 12, 2011
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1,350
OK, I figured it out - with help of service manual (which did not answer my question about pull starting :( ). Key in "OFF" position grounds coil. So, key has to be in "ON" position to pull start. Tried it yesterday and it worked. Ahhh. Piece of mind :)

When motor is off boat, with remote controls disconnected, there is no ground connection for coil. So, motor will start with pull rope, but, only way to shut off will be to disconnect fuel supply or use jumper in plug to short coil to ground.
 

GA_Boater

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
May 24, 2011
Messages
49,038
Or if it has a manual choke, choke it. It will die in seconds.
 
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