Hi guys,
1st time poster so go easy on me. I did a lot of reading here over the last few weeks and have some ideas on what is wrong. First off, I think I am a pretty good shade tree mechanic(lots of ATV,dune buggy, dirt bike, and small engine repairs) but nothing bigger than 25HP boat engines. I am a 21 year retired Air Force veteran working on Nuclear silo missiles(hence the Nuke Em name)lol. I am going to give a long detailed story so you have all the info and know where I am now.
Anyway, I bought a 1986 19.6' Winner bass boat this spring that has been parked in a barn in Missouri since 1993. The engine (200 HP Mariner ser #A914521) had 5hrs of run time since a full rebuild then fogged before parking. I replaced oil and fuel lines, but everything else looks fine. I flushed the carbs(6), tanks and filter was clean. The oil injection system was full so I filled the fuel tanks, primed it, and it fired right up for a couple of seconds and sounded good. Took it to the closest lake and went for a quick spin. It hauled butt but the warning beeper sounded in about 1 minute then stopped after I slowed down. I noticed it was not peeing water, Ah, needs an impeller. OK, I idled it back to the launch then loaded it up.
Next day, took it to the local Merc dealer for the water pump and asked them to give it a tune up with new plugs. They quoted me $200-225...A month later they said they had it ready...$450. I was kinda shocked but the head mechanic said the desk clerk miss quoted me. They said they did a leakdown, compression test, and tested the pumps and aerators. Pissed, but OK I was ready to fish! Hit the water and now it will not go over 1500 without stumbling ,missing, and sputtering.
I promptly took it back to them to see if they might have knocked a wire loose or something. I was still nice, and courteous. 10 days later they called, the carbs were dirty and needed adjusting. Only $150, they normally charge $500 so they were doing me a big favor because they felt bad.???? I am starting to have some doubts about the mechanics there but they said it rev'd fine now. They also said it was hooked to a dyno to check the spark curve. I load it up and head for the lake. I am dying for some fishing now. Put it in the water and same o, same o ...not going over 1500 RPMs.
Back to the dealer the next morning, still trying to be nice. They will get on it ASAP. 3 days later they said the left banks spark voltage was 150s and the rights was 300volts. They said it was probably the switch box and I should swap both at $247 each and they would not charge me labor but the parts are not returnable if it didn't fix it. I said let me think on it. Got home and went to the Mercury website. New from them..$150 each. What the ****! I went back and asked for it back.
I got it home, bought a guaranteed used switch box from Ebay for $40, swapped it in both positions but no changes, still will not rev in water. weird because it revs up out of the water, without a load. I am thinking mechanical advance of somekind?
So here I am. I found this GREAT website. Found out the high end stator could be the culprit. I did find the 2 yellow wires (coming down from the stator to the rectifier) discolored and the insulation very brittle and crumbling off. I think they have been very hot(yel wires) and all the other wires are in great shape. I do have an early (old)shop manual that goes thru 86.
How do I check the rectifier and stator. I have tons of electronic (O-scope/meters) knowledge and access to it to use. Any suggestions? Again, sorry so long winded.
Thanks,
Gary
1st time poster so go easy on me. I did a lot of reading here over the last few weeks and have some ideas on what is wrong. First off, I think I am a pretty good shade tree mechanic(lots of ATV,dune buggy, dirt bike, and small engine repairs) but nothing bigger than 25HP boat engines. I am a 21 year retired Air Force veteran working on Nuclear silo missiles(hence the Nuke Em name)lol. I am going to give a long detailed story so you have all the info and know where I am now.
Anyway, I bought a 1986 19.6' Winner bass boat this spring that has been parked in a barn in Missouri since 1993. The engine (200 HP Mariner ser #A914521) had 5hrs of run time since a full rebuild then fogged before parking. I replaced oil and fuel lines, but everything else looks fine. I flushed the carbs(6), tanks and filter was clean. The oil injection system was full so I filled the fuel tanks, primed it, and it fired right up for a couple of seconds and sounded good. Took it to the closest lake and went for a quick spin. It hauled butt but the warning beeper sounded in about 1 minute then stopped after I slowed down. I noticed it was not peeing water, Ah, needs an impeller. OK, I idled it back to the launch then loaded it up.
Next day, took it to the local Merc dealer for the water pump and asked them to give it a tune up with new plugs. They quoted me $200-225...A month later they said they had it ready...$450. I was kinda shocked but the head mechanic said the desk clerk miss quoted me. They said they did a leakdown, compression test, and tested the pumps and aerators. Pissed, but OK I was ready to fish! Hit the water and now it will not go over 1500 without stumbling ,missing, and sputtering.
I promptly took it back to them to see if they might have knocked a wire loose or something. I was still nice, and courteous. 10 days later they called, the carbs were dirty and needed adjusting. Only $150, they normally charge $500 so they were doing me a big favor because they felt bad.???? I am starting to have some doubts about the mechanics there but they said it rev'd fine now. They also said it was hooked to a dyno to check the spark curve. I load it up and head for the lake. I am dying for some fishing now. Put it in the water and same o, same o ...not going over 1500 RPMs.
Back to the dealer the next morning, still trying to be nice. They will get on it ASAP. 3 days later they said the left banks spark voltage was 150s and the rights was 300volts. They said it was probably the switch box and I should swap both at $247 each and they would not charge me labor but the parts are not returnable if it didn't fix it. I said let me think on it. Got home and went to the Mercury website. New from them..$150 each. What the ****! I went back and asked for it back.
I got it home, bought a guaranteed used switch box from Ebay for $40, swapped it in both positions but no changes, still will not rev in water. weird because it revs up out of the water, without a load. I am thinking mechanical advance of somekind?
So here I am. I found this GREAT website. Found out the high end stator could be the culprit. I did find the 2 yellow wires (coming down from the stator to the rectifier) discolored and the insulation very brittle and crumbling off. I think they have been very hot(yel wires) and all the other wires are in great shape. I do have an early (old)shop manual that goes thru 86.
How do I check the rectifier and stator. I have tons of electronic (O-scope/meters) knowledge and access to it to use. Any suggestions? Again, sorry so long winded.
Thanks,
Gary
