[HarryStottle]

I'm wondering could it have been bad plugs, dirty winter gas. I always winterize (gear oil change and fog it) I did not change the plugs or I did not change the gas which had been sitting there in the tank all winter but I never do!
It just seemed like it wasn't getting it's gas. It wouldn't catch. it turned over good but wouldn't come back to life.
It has always treated me very well in the past and I'm disappointed that this has happened.

[pascal50]

P.S. The VRO has been disconnected ever since I owned it.

[Doozer]

Hi. For the last 5 year or so, on a cold start I have been flipping the choke up( to the on position-located on the controls) push the key in and turn to the right to start(key still being pushed in). It takes a bit of time but eventually I'll get it. When it's warm, and has been sitting for under 10 minutes, push and hold the key in and turn to the right to start. Usually starts like a clock.
If sitting for 30 minutes or more, then I may have to flip the choke up again, push the key in and hold and turn to the right. Usually starts pretty good too!

[hogofwar]

First, if there is ANY resistance when turning the prop in EITHER direction by hand, then you definitely have a problem and it more than likely is NOT electrical (unless it has electronic shift, which I assume this does not - is it a 60hp 3-cyl VRO?). that being said, you would need to determine if the issue (resistance) is coming from the powerhead or lower unit. If there is only resistance in ONE direction, I would guess lower unit. It would take one HECK of a prop strike (high RPM) to break a crankshaft by hitting something with your prop, especially if you have an aluminum prop. Not saying it couldn't be done, but I would start with the lower unit. Also, could you have possibly broken the shifting cable? If the motor was in gear and the shifter was in gear when you hit the rock and the motor slammed out of gear, it is possible that that force could have snapped a weakened shifting cable. That would allow your lower unit to remain in gear even though the shifting lever is in neutral. This happened to my brother-in-law a couple weeks ago. He went to start his Evinrude 175 and the motor started, but was stuck in reverse and wouldn't shift. His shifting cable had broken and was the reason. The shifter was in neutral, so the neutral switch in the control allowed the motor to turn over and start, but it wouldn't shift out of reverse. more

[paulie_w]

It sounds like this was a pretty solid prop strike at low speeds, as you were backing away from a dock with a pontoon, but the motor did stop immediately, so it wasn't a glancing blow. It is possible you stripped or sheared something in the gearcase, but I would also check to see if the shifting cable is moving the shifting arm on the starboard (right) side of the motor. If the cable is broken, they are VERY easy to replace on a pontoon as the cables are readily accessible (ie not run through the gunwale like on a fishing boat). They run $50-80 depending on the length and require minimal tools and mechanical ability to install. If it is not the cable, my guess would then move to the shifting dog or lower unit gears. These would best be worked on at a marina by experts.

[SlipperySlope]

Those 3-cylinder OMC outboards are built like tanks and were good, strong workhorse outboards. If you can fix it for a reasonable amount of money, I would go for it. I had a 1989 70hp VRO that I blew a cylinder on last summer. Unfortunately, it was cost-prohibitive to rebuild it and I would have missed most (if not ALL) of the boating season, so I bought a 2003 90hp Johnson to replace it. Performance-wise, the 70hp didn't hold a candle to the 90, but the 70hp was plenty of motor on my 16.5' Princecraft. It was reliable and even on the day it blew up, it started and ran strong right up until a ring stuck and it blew up. In fact, it still started and idled back to the launch on 2 of the 3 cylinders so I wasn't stranded on the lake - it just didn't have full power! Good luck and keep us posted on what you find out! more

[davidpbrown]

Re: Motor just clicks when trying to start?? HELP more

[tfoote]

Thanks for you help guys, I'll take a shot at it today, need to get the boat out its HOT

[r1b]

silvertip is right. a nick in a cable can also cause it to corrode from the inside . if there are any irregular buldges investigate them. more

[sherrylewis3usa]

with the key turned off, very carefully take a jumper cables, ground the motor to battery, connect the red jumper to battery, the touch it to the big red lead on the starter. the starter should engage. if it does then the starter is good,, could be solenoid. dirty corroded connections, bad ignition swicth, or mouse chewed wires.

[jiffy]

1983 Engines - Marine Outboard 75ER 49.7ci - 75 H.P. [links]

[bittechconsulting]

United Technologies
SM10629, SM17996
1799640-M030SM, SM02610
5723040-M030SM, SM57048
SMH12B41, 5704840-M030SM
0261040-M030SM, 1062940-M030SM

[TrafficTiger]

1969 Engines - Marine Outboard E65 (Older Models) 44.9ci - 65 H.P.
1970 Engines - Marine Outboard E65 (Older Models) 44.9ci - 65 H.P.
1971 Engines - Marine Outboard E65 (Older Models) 44.9ci - 65 H.P.
1972 Engines - Marine Outboard E65 (Older Models) 44.9ci - 65 H.P.
1973 Engines - Marine Outboard E65 (Older Models) 44.9ci - 65 H.P.
1974 Engines - Marine Outboard E65 (Older Models) 44.9ci - 65 H.P.
1975 Engines - Marine Outboard E65 (Older Models) 44.9ci - 65 H.P.
1976 Engines - Marine Outboard E65 (Older Models) 44.9ci - 65 H.P.
1977 Engines - Marine Outboard E65 (Older Models) 44.9ci - 65 H.P.
1978 Engines - Marine Outboard E65 (Older Models) 44.9ci - 65 H.P.
1979 Engines - Marine Outboard E65 (Older Models) 44.9ci - 65 H.P.

[FrY10cK]

1999 Engines - Marine Outboard 40JPL Jet (3cyl) 44.9ci - 40 H.P.
2000 Engines - Marine Outboard 40JPL Jet (3cyl) 44.9ci - 40 H.P.
2001 Engines - Marine Outboard 40JPL Jet (3cyl) 44.9ci - 40 H.P. [links]

[Legion]

1980 Engines - Marine Outboard E75ERL 49.7ci - 75 H.P. more