1972 Merc 402 wire question

[Namenottaken]

Ok I've already been told the motor was crap from the factory, but it was given to me and I intend to run it if I can.
The wires that run from the ignition box to the coils, they are thick, green and say Mercury on them.. Are they "resister" wire?? The insulation on mine crumbled and they fell apart.. They didn't look like regular strand wire.
Has been sitting in a shed for the last five yrs, but ran when it was put away. Pulling the rope I could make the plugs fire, before I started messing with the wires..

 

[corm]

Re: 1972 Merc 402 wire question

Hi,

They are not "resister" wire. Any stranded wire of the same gauge will be fine.
I don't know that the engines were junk, I think that is a harsh judgment of the 40 HP. It had some rough times during it's evolution.

 

[Namenottaken]

Re: 1972 Merc 402 wire question

Well I seem to always end up with junk. So when I was told this motor was one of the worst merc ever put out, well I just figured I had done it again.
But, if it runs I don't care. Thanks for your reply..

 

[rimmy]

Re: 1972 Merc 402 wire question

I know how you what your talk about. I have a 402 jet and i run it almost every weekend. And every time i go to get parts [plugs ] they say its still running.Its never be rebuild so it knocks and bings a little but it keeps going. Good luck.
ps i buy plugs once a year

 

[corm]

Re: 1972 Merc 402 wire question

I know how you what your talk about. I have a 402 jet and i run it almost every weekend. And every time i go to get parts [plugs ] they say its still running.Its never be rebuild so it knocks and bings a little but it keeps going. Good luck.
ps i buy plugs once a year

They just want to sell you a new one

The 400 40Hp was not good. After a major redo Merc called the 40HP the 402 a much better engine. They only put out 37 HP at the crank and were peaky. meaning the 37 hp was a spike on the hp graph curve. So they were not very powerful. I see a lot of them running all summer long. They did not take over heating well, but most engines don't. The last yrs they built this engine it was a 35 HP they were good ones. My brother has one that he has run the heck out of since 84. He puts a water pump and fuel pump diaphram and plugs in it every 4 yrs.