Merc starter issues
 

Picked up a newer boat with a 25 Merc tiller ELPT, it is only 2 yrs old and has very limited hours of use. When I put it in neutral I have to keep moving the handle just a touch here and there before the starter will in gauge. Very frustrating when you are down at the end of the lake. It does have a pull start which works great but that is not what I should have to do wondering if there is some kind of adjustment in the handle. When I take the lid off it seems going into forward or reverse is fine and the neutral position also looks OK.

Anyone else ever have this issue?

Is it possible the neutral safety switch is not disengaging for the electric start?

Those motors have 2 switches, one on the fly wheel cover and one just behind the end of the tiller I believe.

neutral safety switch, spray some contact cleaner on it and see if it is just gummed up and not activating properly.

Not sure where that switch in the tiller is located. A note, when I remove the cover and put it in gear, I notice the reverse snaps into place where the neutral and forward are just kind of moved into place, also quite stiff to move the handle in and out of gear.

Just bumping this. I have the same issue just starting to happen on my 25/hp. Its 12 years young.

I am trying to find out online if I can fix it or just get it done this winter.

Dodger

If you have the electric start it will probably be the safety switch... if not its something else.