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Random Quote: Early to bed early to rise fish like hell and make up lies.
I have a 2002, 125 Mercury 2 stroke. When I went fishing on Friday and at the end of my drift I went to turn the motor on and hear the unmistakable sound of the starter spinning, but not engaging. I used the cord in the hood and was able to pull start the motor.
When I got home I took off the 4 wings nuts and could see the gear spinning. It would not move up to engage the flywheel. I lifted it gently and turned the nut on top. The gear moved freely and I could manually make it engage the flywheel. I lubed the threads even thought they looked fine. In fact a lightly greased the entire shaft the gear moves on. It moves freely. After I do this, I can turn the key and the starter engages. Turn it off and the gear stays stuck at the bottom. Manually lift the gear, and turn nut on top and turn the key and again the gear will engage. Turn it off and the gear is stuck at the bottom again.
Is this the solenoid? Starter? Where does the solenoid look like?
Any help would be appreciated. If you have questions for me to clarify something let me know. I’m not sure I’m being clear.
Bad wire connection or bad solenoid. Go to mercury parts (google) with your motors serial number for a picture of the solenoid. Disconnect all wire connections and clean throughly. If bendix does still not engage, solenoid is most likely bad. You can test it with a jumper switch or a screwdriver if you know what you are doing. PM me with your model and serial number and I will try to help you with details.
The solenoid is to the left of the starter? At 12 noon there is a heavy gauge wire that goes to the starter. At 9 o’clock there is a yellow wire with a red stripe. At 6 o’clock there are 3 red wires and 2 heavier wires, at 3 o’clock it looks like a ground. That is what I might have to replace?
I have the exact same motor, same year. It is likely not electrical. I had trouble twice. The first time, the bendix/starter gear needed to be pulled up and I had to grease it up with T-9. This worked for a year. After a year something broke and the starter would not engage the flywheel. I had the mechanic rebuild it for $75 bucks. I am almost certain that you need to have it refurbished or cleaned up. Either way, it is not an expensive fix. My reasearch on the issue showed that it is very common for this motor. Good Luck.
In addition, when you lifted the gear up, did it turn as you lifted it?, also if you let it go did it spring back to the bottom? Cigaw brings up a goodpoint, could be the bendix. Let us know.
Yes, it turned on the threaded shaft as I lifted it. Then it would spring back down. He is why it is strange, If I turned the key, it would engage the starter. When I released the key, it would again, spring down, but would be stuck and just spin. IF I gently pried it up, it would be sort of stuck, then come up and down normally again.
Time to take it apart and check for wear or burrs on the shaft and/ or gear. Its apparently binding at the bottom. Dont forget to disconnect that battery befor removing starter. , good luck.
lube the Bendix up
if it keeps doing it, time for a new Bendix
My thoughts exactly, I had the same problem with mine and found that a new Bendix fixed it. As simple as it looks that lubing it up would work, it doesn't. Just replace the Bendix and it should be fine.
I have since moved up to a '07 Opti, but I had the same 125 as you and the Bendix was the fix.
__________________ 2002 Trophy 2002FF with Pro Package, 2007 175 Optimax SOLD
How did you make out? What was the end fix? Those with similar problems may benefit .
ron
I brought it to a place that rebuilds starters. I dropped it off in the morning and I the afternoon the guy said, “Give me $10”
I was shocked and asked what it was. He said that when the motor starts, it sometimes throws the gear down kind of hard. He found tiny burrs in the gear and on the shaft. He smoothed them out and now the starter works fine.
Time to take it apart and check for wear or burrs on the shaft and/ or gear. Its apparently binding at the bottom. Dont forget to disconnect that battery befor removing starter. , good luck.
2002, 125 Mercury Outboard Question 
, good luck.
