20HP Electrical Problems

[Charliecee2002]

I have changed coils , power packs, and cleaned the goo out of the carb. I finally got the starter to work with the key by accidentally bumping the top cowling. Now sometimes the starter engages as soon as i turn on the ignition. I think my spark is gone..? (as well). Can someone help me out of this? It was sparking. But can't see any now. It doesn't seem to fire when I rank it. I'm not getting fuel to the spark plugs as well. Heeeeeelp!

 

[Texasmark]

Re: 20HP Electrical Problems

Have you posted before on this topic with pertinent information as to what you have and how it got in this mess? If not, knowing would help greatly in attempting to help you.<br /><br />Mark

 

[Charliecee2002]

Re: 20HP Electrical Problems

Mark,<br />No I have not and it got into this mess from a brotherinlaw that didn't know what he was doing. they had romex connected to the solenoid for a starter and the carb was completely gooed up. I have tried to rewire and rebuild as best i can from common sense but im not sure i have the ignition in the on position i do know it will finally turn over however. I have a salmon colored wire that has no where to go as yet. the rest have been connected. It is hot too. and comes on when i turn on the ignition. but i don't know where to hook it to!?

 

[steelespike]

Re: 20HP Electrical Problems

Are you working with a manual?Why did you change the ignition parts? Did you follow normal procedures from a manual to clean your carb and rebuild your ignition system.<br /> It is obvious you have a key switch problem or wiring problems or it wouldn't crank as soon as you turn the key.If the work in the motor was done right you should be able to unhook all the external wires that connect to the motor and hand crank it to check spark.Let us know what you find and what exactly you have for a motor and we may be able to be more help.

 

[Charliecee2002]

Re: 20HP Electrical Problems

I have to consult the manual at a friends and only scan the pages for info i need. If and will it atart like a small engine if i disonnect all the wires? To answer your insult some of us fools are short finanially and cannnot afford the manual. (Fixed income, retired). But i do thank you for your advice. You, Sir could use a lesson in manners. I'm very grateful to you for your help.

 

[Motor Boater Bill]

Re: 20HP Electrical Problems

Welcome to iBoats, Chazndee. I think you may have taken Spike's signature line as being directed at you--please don't take offense. I believe that appears at the end of each of his posts. It is a reference to Abraham Lincoln's well known quote that "a person who represents himself has a fool for a lawyer."<br /><br />That said, let's see how we can help you get your motor running. It will not be as easy without a manual, of course, but we all understand limited budgets, or most of us do. Often you can check one out at your local library, and if they don't have it they may be able to get it for you on interlibrary loan.<br /><br />We need to know the serial number of your motor so we can give you the right information. This should be on a plate between the transom mounting screws. Then we can determine the right wiring info. Serial numbers are better than model years because Merc often changed details during a given year.<br /><br />Here are some good free resources that may help you as well. For wiring diagrams:<br /> http://www.maxrules.com/wireindex.html <br /><br />For parts blow-ups:<br /> http://www.mercruiserparts.com/selectModels2.asp?type_id=MERC <br /><br />For parts and info:<br /> http://www.oldmercs.com/ <br /><br />There is also a good step by step post for troubleshooting any outboard in the FAQ section of this board:<br /> http://forums.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=000001 <br /><br />Good luck and hang in there! And do be patient, it's often easy to misinterpret even well-intentioned words when we can't see the smile that goes with the comment.<br /><br />Best regards,<br />Motor Boater Bill

 

[Charliecee2002]

Re: 20HP Electrical Problems

Thanks a million buk bill(Till i can better pay you). I'll retrieve the serial numbers tommorrow and get them to you. I have onsulted the shematics and cannot seem to get one that represent the looks of mine??! Thanks again and will reply tommorrow. Thanks and best wishes to spike as well.<br />Charlie

 

[Charliecee2002]

Re: 20HP Electrical Problems

Mark,<br />My Serial # is 4353406 its a 1975 mercury 200 20HP.<br />Thanks again<br />Charlie

 

[Motor Boater Bill]

Re: 20HP Electrical Problems

Good evening, Charlie.<br />I have a Merc 200 motor with a serial number of 4353017. Your motor and mine must have been made within weeks of each other. I've pretty much been through all the electrics on mine, so perhaps I can be of some assistance. I also added electric start.<br /><br />Accoring to the serial numbers posted on Grubbs website, you and I both have 1976 motors. See the serial numbers and readily available parts here:<br /><br /> http://www.oldmercs.com/197476merc200.htm <br /><br />Now, that said, the interesting thing is that Merc changed the electrical system in early 1976, starting with number 4403787. This is according to the specs on stators in the Mercury Factory Manual. So, although our motors were 1976 motors, they have the electrical system of a 1975. You can verify this if you can check the part number on your CDI box, the box all the wires come out of. It should look like a rectangular metal frame filled with black potting material that looks like plastic. The part number should be 339-4911.<br /><br />If all that lines up, you have the 1975 electrical system. Let me know if that's right.<br /><br />The other thing about this vintage is that they have crummy wiring. When I got mine it wouldn't start because the kill switch wire was shorted to ground. The insulation had crumbled where the wire passes under a clamp, and shorted there. So check all your wires.<br /><br />If I understand you indicated this is a remote set up, with a steering wheel in the boat, not tiller steer. Please confirm that also and we can go from there.<br /><br />Now, you should be able to find your wiring diagram here:<br /><br /> http://www.maxrules.com/wireindex.html <br /><br />Scroll down to where it says:<br /><br />"1966 and newer"<br /><br />Then select the third one down, it is the one that says this:<br /><br />"Merc 200 (Breakerless Ignition)..........Internal & (2)External Wiring Diagrams."<br /><br />See if all this lines up with your motor and get back to me here.<br /><br />Good luck, Charlie and hang in there. I bet you can fix this. These are good motors, with bad wires.<br /><br />Motor Boater Bill

 

[Charliecee2002]

Re: 20HP Electrical Problems

Bill,<br />Well, ... there seems to be light at the end of the tunnell. I cannot get the web page to open up you sent me too. I just get a 1/2"x1/2" box in the upper left hand orner of the window?! Now what huh? My killl switch is ompletely disconnected at this time. I am concerned with the ground short I have . How an I get the maxrules web site to open after i select the mercury breakerless ignition?<br />CHarlie

 

[Laddies]

Re: 20HP Electrical Problems

Chazndee. alot of the early CD ign. systems on the small 2cyl. engines were ground on to run try to hook the wire to the kill switch to ground with a jumper wire and ck spark

 

[Charliecee2002]

Re: 20HP Electrical Problems

Laddies, Am I to understand to hook up the stop switch with the remaining wire that goes to the engine bracket and then ground again to the engine block?<br />Charlie

 

[Laddies]

Re: 20HP Electrical Problems

Just take the wire take goes to stop switch and ground it and ck the engine for spark

 

[Motor Boater Bill]

Re: 20HP Electrical Problems

Laddies, on this particular motor it is ground to kill, not the other way around, which I believe was story the 1972 Merc 200 with the maker points. On this one the kill switch is normally open, and grounds the kill wire when pushed.<br /><br />Charlie, the link should download the wiring diagram as a .pdf file. If you have a "downloads" folder on your computer, it is probably there. If you can search your hard drive, look for a file named "20-2.pdf" and open it with any document reader like Adobe Acrobat.<br /><br />Post your email address and I'll email it to you if you like.<br /><br />Is your motor tiller or remote steering? <br /><br />Motor Boater Bill

 

[Charliecee2002]

Re: 20HP Electrical Problems

Bill,<br />Its remote steer. I'm going to try to hook up the kill switch today. (This makes good sense you know??????). I never knew what to do with the salmon colored wire. I hope this is the root of my problem! Now i have to find out why its not getting any fuel to the plugs? The carb had set for a couple years and was really mucked up. I'll let you know!<br /><br />thanks so much!<br />Charlie<br />PS. I found my acrobat reader and downloaded the schematic with no problem.<br />My e-mail is <br />chazndeecoy@csweb.net

 

[Charliecee2002]

Re: 20HP Electrical Problems

Well,<br />Thanx for the help guys... I'm afraid its all been for nothinbnng. I found that I don't have enough compression to suck a plastic bag thru the manifold intake. Now i need to find me another motor. Thanks again fellas!!!!!<br /><br />Charlie Coy

 

[Motor Boater Bill]

Re: 20HP Electrical Problems

Charlie,<br />Bad news about your motor! Really sorry to hear that. Let us know if you get another and we can be of assistance.<br /><br />You might consider finding a good powerhead to put on that motor, they do turn up on eBay from time to time.<br /><br />Motor Boater Bill

 

[Charliecee2002]

Re: 20HP Electrical Problems

MB Bill,<br />How much does a used or ebuilt power head typially cost? and are they very hard to change out?<br /><br />Charlie

 

[Charliecee2002]

Re: 20HP Electrical Problems

Bill,<br />Are you anywhere near Paintsville ky or whitesburg? My wife was from there born in paintsville and live in whitesburg.<br /><br />Charlie

 

[Motor Boater Bill]

Re: 20HP Electrical Problems

Yup, about three hours drive to either one.