1982 Merc 50hp outboard stator question?

[craigman]

Fellas, have a new to me boat with a 50hp Merc. Doing my usual things, water pump, tune up, clean carbs, ect. before I take it out and noticed the charging wires coming from the stator are burnt to a crisp. Also checked with an ohm meter and not getting any resistance through the red wires. So it's toast. Going to get a replacement.
My question is, what makes a stator go bad?
​Any ideas shot my way is thankful!
Craig

 

[Mercurylips]

Last stator on a Mercury motor that was ruined was due to hooking up the battery wrong. That was in 1968. The older Mercurys from the 70s and early 80s have wiring insulation weakness. It gets brittle and cracks and flakes off. Wonderful motors if that wasn't the major flaw. JMHO- Mike

 

[merc850]

Also disconnecting the battery while running or jump starting dead battery with booster cables, because the ignition is alternator driven someone could try to run it without a battery.