My boat (MissAdventure) has 120 Mercury Force Outboard. It is 1995 vintage. I've had it for last 5 -6 years. After some initial problems with the starter it has run OK for me. However, it has never started up in the "throttle-lever upright (Neutral) position" . It will crank forever in this position, but I've always had to push the throttle lever far forward and give it LOTS of gas to get it to turn over. Besides that, even though I've depressed the neutral button on the bottom of the column -- it often kicks into gear at the same time it starts!!! This is quite dangerous (not to mention embarrassing when you're tied up to the dock and there are people watching...) Now - lately, after the motor starts and I bring the throttle back into the neutral position (vertical) -- it makes this god-awful noise LIKE A CONTINUOUS RATCHETING NOISE, all the while it is in neutral. Once I shift into gear and get under way, everything seems fine. Only starting up and idling in neutral are there these two (separate? related?) problems.
Is there anything I can check out myself (not mechanically inclined) -- or can anyone recommend an outboard mechanic I can take it to to have checked?
i think orboater is right - it sounds like a shift cable. Rt. 8 Marine is one of the best outboard shops around although i know they are really busy this time of year and it may take you a while to get it back - althought that is the case with just about anybody right now.
MissAdventure is Sick!
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