Tried to go out twice today - Merc 200 troubleshooting help!

[garbubba]

Tried to take the Son-in-law & Grandaughter out Friday, had everything ready, weather did not cooperate. Tried again this am. Get to the launch, back in, try to start, grrrr, nope. Knew the one battery was weak, had charged them both Thursday. didn't run it after that because I'd added the oil, but not the gas yet....

No biggie, pull out, tie stuff down, off to the auto parts store, new battery & bam!, back at the launch. Starts up, but rough, doesn't want to idle. Head out the channel & hit it and it doesn't want to go. Seems like a power pack, no power at all but smooth. Pull back to the dock, open it up, look for obvious anything, nope.

Back home, wasn't meant to be.

I can test the power packs while they are on the engine, right? Just dug the manual out.

assuming that's it, what's the best choice as a replacement, used parts, after market, or new Merc? Did this once before, can't remember what I used.

Thanks.

[spareparts]

http://www.cdielectronics.com/


https://issuu.com/cdielectronics/docs/practical_ouboard_ignition_troubles


You will need to check spark on all 6

[steplift20]

That's what I was going to say too Check for spark,

[garbubba]

Truck broke down, ain't that always the way, so boat is on the back burner. Almost positive one side will have spark and the other not, but smart to check first, thanks.

[steplift20]

Power pack That's the culprit

[steplift20]

I had the same problem years ago only mine would be fine than all of a sudden the rpms would cut in half and the oil alarm would sound, found out the powerlpack the w as wired in with the alarm was the one

[garbubba]

Me too, steplift, and that's what I was about to do. although I understand the stator triggers the powerpacks, and could cause the same symptoms, so I'll check that first. I have no problem switching out boxes, but I'm not thrilled with pulling a flywheel off that's been on for 22 years.

[garbubba]

Finally got off my butt, no spark on the port side, all three sparking away on the stbd.

So I check the stator resistance at the red/blue wires next to eliminate it, right?

If that passes I buy two more switch boxes, right again?

thanks,

[spareparts]

swap the stator wire inputs to the switch boxes from onee side to the other, if the problem moves, its the stator, if it stays the same, its the switch box

[garbubba]

Thanks spare, will do tomorrow.

[garbubba]

Swapped the stator wires while I had them off I used my Ohm meter on them, one side was open. Swapped them anyway, and the problem changed sides.

I think I'm going to take it to my repair guy, last time I pulled a flywheel off an old motor it was a mess. Think broken puller bolts, torch, impact wrench....

That way I can be much more sure of the repair.

Thanks, I'd have hated to bought more switchboxes & that not fixed it.

One quick question, along with the red/white wires from the stator, the outer pack had another red/wht wire that came from the timing advance module. When I switched the wires I left that one on the outer box, is that correct or should it follow the red/wht wires?

[spareparts]

this is what it takes to get the flywheel off
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/252338225411?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true

[garbubba]

Another tool?, that makes my decision easier spare. I think I'll take it to my mechanic tomorrow.

Thanks

[phatdaddy]

20 bucks on Amazon , plus gives u a way to safely lift the engine. Well worth it

[steplift20]

Gar bubba I'm with you if you have a good mechanic let him do it I know these guys could do it easy and I wish I had half of there knowledge and skills but sometimes it best to go to the mechanic Don't feel bad I can't even get the port side nut off me tilt tube W hen I take mine yo the shop for something I'm going to say, hey can you put on this nut and take that one off Thanks

[steplift20]

Plus if you let them install the stator they will guarantee it I know I had mine changed about four times It kept going bad for some reason once two times in one year Crazy I know

[Destroyer]

20 bucks on Amazon , plus gives u a way to safely lift the engine. Well worth it

Yep. I almost choked when I saw the price on that one. $90 is highway robbery!! Like Phatdaddy said. it also gives you a safe way to lift the engine. (You take out the bolt and screw in a lifting ring where the bolt was... nice, fast and centered on the engine for precise control.) Couldn't be simpler.
Think I paid $25 for mine several years back.

This is pretty much what mine looks like: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Outboard-Mercury-Mariner-Flywheel-puller-Lift-Ring-Eye-Bushing-Tools-/271566385222?hash=item3f3a9e3046:m:mZE400BhbJzbuc_ G1ITsLDQ&vxp=mtr for $33.99. I did see one for $14.99 but it didn't have the eye ring.

[garbubba]

Took it to the shop Tuesday, my mechanic doesn't do Mondays.

Told him what I knew, also told him I'd been having an intermittent timing issue, not always but once a trip or so. (i'd be cruising along and it would just speed up) He did a bit of an aha and said it did sound like the stator.

Just called me & said it was the stator, he did get weak spark on one side -- I thought I saw a spark or two on that side but I was using a new tester on a sunny day.

He had a test spare & said all good but doesn't have one to sell. A new one is $600.

Anybody have one? I have a local parts guy I'll call.

What about the new non merc replacements like:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercury-Stator-1979-1999-135-300HP-398-5454A11-A15-A16-A35-174-5456-16-C117-/302037360709?hash=item4652d46045:m:m6nDZGRDVpzT73M T-wUmbuw&vxp=mtr

Need to get it back under it's roof, it's rained 4 inches in 24 hours & ain't stopping!

[garbubba]

Local parts guys turns out to be 5 minutes from the house, has one used, looks like new, for $190.00! I jumped on it, took it to my mechanic.

[spareparts]

CDI is good stuff, but if you got a merc for $190 you did good

[garbubba]

It was a merc part, looked like new and worked fine,ran rough at first but all it took was a new set of plugs, now for this &$%#@ tropical weather to move along so I can use it.

Thanks for the assist guys.