Is kicker seized?

[Poindexter]

I just bought a new jet sled (20' NW Jet). Main motor had 26 hours, so I never even thought of starting up the 2005 8HP Mercury kicker (which looks brand new). Paid for the boat yesterday. Took the boat out today for a spin and main motor runs great. Kicker won't start -- I can't pull the motor start cord. I tested the neutral by shifting it into Forward and the prop wouldn't spin. Then shifted into Neutral and it spun freely. Still couldn't pull the cord.

Is this motor toast? Is there something I'm missing? I haven't had a pull start motor for probably 12 or 14 years.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[Lead Bouncer]

1. If its a four stroke you probably wont be able to turn the prop in gear.
If you ever tried to kick start a motorcycle, compare the leverage of your foot to turning a prop by hand.

Take the plugs out to eliminate compression and see if the cord will turn the engine over in neutral.

I would also suggest that you spray some light weight oil, like wd 40, but perhaps PB Blaster which is available at a lot of Good hardware stores. You want a penetrating oil incase the walls or rings are corroded.

When I was in high school, i bought a project bike that was in perfect shape except for one thing. The guy never told me how or what he did to it, but the honda four cylinder was completely rusted in the top end. It took four guys to get the cylinders off of the pistons. I melted down two pistions trying to get the rings off. Two new pistons, all new rings, honed the cylinder and the gutless wonder (350-4) got 60 miles to the gallon.

If you bought this from a dealer, call them before you do ANYTHING. If it was a private owner, call him up and ask him to give his mechanic/dealer instructions to release all of the maintenance on the motor. On the slim chance this guy didnt screw you, he may want to make it good. His kid could have started it up dry in the yard and froze it up or maybe he did it. You just have to go one step at a time, but the maintenance info might help and just having the phone number isnt enough. Privacy prevails and he has to give permission for them to release anything.

From now on, maintenance records are part of the deal and so is a wet test. Let us know what you find out.

That bike looked brand new, but he could not tell me what happened. I just know that guy would have sold me a lemon and if he didnt have to come clean.

[fishingls]

Take a look at the starter rope first. Make sure it is no bound up. Pull the motor cover and unbolt the shield that covers the rope. When you have the shield off, you should be able to manually turn the motor to check if the motor is siezed.

[budnate]

sounds like the neutral pull start linkage is stuck in safety mode, look by the flywheel and see if there is a little plastic finger dropped down jamming the flywhell and rope start, pull it back and try to walk the flywheel by hand and gently pull the rope, have the plugs out helps clear and struff as well.

motor has to be in Neutral to start!

B.

[Poindexter]

Budnate had it. I checked the motor again today on dry land, and found that the tiller shifter linkage wasn't exactly meshing so the motor wasn't shifting into neutral correctly. I fiddled with it a bit and got it to start. I'm going to run it in to my mechanic Monday and have it thoroughly checked out. Pretty good relief, thought I got snookered for a bit. I like the boat otherwise, though.

Thanks for the tips.