No spark!!

[AcogDoc]

Well hello again everyone!! I’m back! The boat launch near my house just reopened and me and some friends were excited to get out and do some fishing. Got to boat launch and the 2 stroke mercury 150 is always a little cold to start but she started and then died. Then I couldn’t get it started. So we pulled her up and I jiggled somewires on the spark plugs (no idea why). But we put her back in for another try and she started and died. Then we could t get it started again. Took the boat home and messed around with everything I could think of. The starter is working fuel is moving but I’m getting no spark to any spark plug. I changed all the spark plugs to 6 brand new ones and I’m getting ZERO spark on any cylinder. So I’m thinking it could be
A.) the stator
B.) the trigger
I would say maybe it’s the coils or something else but that I would think would just cause one cylinder not to spark or just an isolated cylinder. Anyway. Boat mechanics in Southern California are too expensive and they just take too long (no fault of their own they’re busy) so just curious if anyone has a reason I wouldn’t be getting any spark on any cylinder. I have the service manual on pdf I sent it to my dad and he thinks it’s the trigger so I’m going to check it. But all of your input is greatly greatly appreciated.

[spareparts]

disconnect the engine harness from the engine(large cannon plug), spin the engine over by jumping the red wire to the yellow/red wire. If you now have spark, its the key switch, the kill switch, or the harness is grounded out. Use an ohm meter and check the black/ yellow wire to ground. Eliminate the kill switch first, then the key switch, Its like a lawn mower, it makes its own ignition, you have to ground it out to shut it off. If it doesn't make spark with the harness disconnected, its probably the stator. You can check stator output, but you will need a DVA adapter. Check with CDI electronics for more diagnostic tips, DVA adapter, and replacement parts. The trigger has three magnets, so if its bad, it generally(not always) usually looses 2 coils from spark, if the switch box is bad, it generally(but not always) looses three coils. Coil issues usually looses one at a time. Its very rare to have a coil wire issues.

[AcogDoc]

Thanks for the quick reply. I went and did the service manual check on the trigger and everything checked out. I’m going to read over your comment again do a little research and get back at it again tomorrow. Thanks for the advice. It’s needed

[AcogDoc]

I also have no kill switch. My boat just doesn’t have one. That would be the lanyard style deal right? I don’t have anything like that

[Destroyer]

Glad you made it here from the Face Book site. Also glad you got a manual. Spareparts is a master engine mechanic and dealer and owns his own shop.
He's also a really nice guy that gives freely of his vast knowledge. Treat any advice you get from him as gospel.

(You can send me the check later Spare) :you:

[AcogDoc]

Well I took spare parts advice. I was nervous bridging those wires. Electrical scares me. But it worked!! I got spark once I briefed them.

So I need to figure out if it***8217;s the key switch, kill switch, or then engine harness being grounded out.

Any tips or advice on how to accomplish this?? Spare parts is my hero! ***128514;***128514;***128514;

[AcogDoc]

None of the colors on this ignition switch match the mercury service manual. And the service manual only outlines if you have a side mount throttle control. I have a dash mount throttle control. I’m so lost

[AcogDoc]

Well I checked the key switch and what not now I have spark (makes no sense) but I only have spark on 5 cylinders one cylinder isn***8217;t producing spark . Checked the grounds and switched a coil. The problem didn***8217;t follow the coil so I***8217;m just at a loss

[phatdaddy]

Swap the switch boxes and see if the problem follows. When the motor was running, was it charging ok? Was the tach working?

[Blue_Runner]

Hey Acog, Spareparts is a hero to many on this site other sites around the world wide web!! :clap:

[AcogDoc]

I’ll try swapping out the switch boxes and see if that does the trick

[AcogDoc]

And when it was running the tach was working and it was charging I believe. I have two batteries in a switch and never need to change to the back up battery.

[spareparts]

If you e down to just one coil not firing, double check the ground wires to the coil, swap the green wires from one coil to another, if the problem moves, its the switch box(rare for one output to go bad), if the problem doesn't move, its the coil. If you buy switch boxes, get CDI brand, they are better than oem

[AcogDoc]

Well good news. I have discovered the problem to be the switch boxes. Well just one of them. But if one is and change them both... THANK YOU SPARE PARTS!!!!

No on to another issue..... knowing that I have 5 cylinders firing.... shouldn’t I hypothetically be able to at least get the boat running?? I know it needs to be repaired first but I’m baffled at why the boat won’t start. It definitely smells of gas. I have examined and I know for sure that the sender unit in the gas tank is leaking I either need to replace it r replace the gasket around it. I changed my fuel filter the primer bulb gets hard and the boat ran the weekend before. I’m curious what can be preventing it from starting. Could the fuel sender leaking be the issue?? Has anyone ever gotten a bad batch of gas?? I always make sure I mix my fuel 50:1. (I run premix).

[AcogDoc]

After hours of tinkering and some sun burns and some cussing. I got her started thanks to the patience from spare parts!! One of the switch boxes was bad so I got 2 new CDI switch boxes and the starter solenoid appeared to be going to so I switched that out hooked her to some water and fired her up!! Back in business!! Woo hoo!!!!

[Blue_Runner]

Awesome success story congrats on getting her purring again!

[steplift20]

Spare parts is my hero too but I also have a 150 merc but it's older than yours I think and when there is a problem like what your having three things stator switch boxes or trigger assembly Carbs are another problem cause of this garbage gas Glad to see you fixed the problem