Starter pull cord get stuck / 8hp 4 stroke Mercury 2012

[manufran]

I have a 2012 8hp / 4 stroke mercury. It runs fine however the pull cord gets stuck and I have to switch from neutral to forward and reverse to release it, and pull fully to start the engine. Any ideas what is causing this problem. (I also have a Yamaha 2005 4hp / 4 stroke and never had this problem)

Thanks.

 

[galamb]

It sounds like your shift interlock is jiggered up (cable stretched or something seizing up a bit there).

It's the mechanism that is there to prevent you from pulling the rope with the motor in gear (which could pitch you overboard if it came to life in forward).

I don't work on 4 strokes and this is really a Tohatsu, not a Merc, so I will defer the process to either someone familiar or suggest you pick up a manual (Seloc's is fine).

Working on a rewind starter isn't rocket science but there is very specific steps which must be followed so 1) you don't get hurt if a spring lets go and 2) so you don't launch some of the assembly.

 

[manufran]

Galamb
Thank you for your reply and useful insight. I will look into Seloc's manual and see if this is something I can handle. Best regards, Manufran

 

[Coach Fletch]

Manufran, Did you ever resolve this? I have the exact same issue. I have to turn the throttle handle just into the Reverse area so that the "Recoil neutral interlock" will pop up and release things so that I can pull the Cord.



Hope to hear back from you as to how you may have solved this.