life span of power pack & stator?

miichael18

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Mar 24, 2004
Messages
161
What is the life span of a power pack and a stator? Guy at work said your lucky to get 10 years out of a power pack and didn't know about a stator. Iv had my 1974 Evinrude for 4 years now and never replaced nothing on it yet but lost power to all 3 coils last weekend. he advised me to buy a power pack and if its not it that i will need it sooner or later anyway since i plan on keeping the motor a while. Just wondering what life span of them both was on average. He has a 2000 Johnson 50hp and has already replaced the power pack. If this is the case ill buy a new power pack for $78 and if its not the problem i will change the stator and keep the power pack till when i do need it.
 

KYHunter2

Chief Petty Officer
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Mar 20, 2006
Messages
512
Re: life span of power pack & stator?

First don't buy anything until , you find out the problem.

The way to do that is get a OEM, manual for your motor and trouble shoot your symptoms.

A few things to check are all grounds, engine, coils, etc.

There are too many variables, such as maintenance procedures, etc. to guess at powerpack , coil, or for that matter motor life.

Unless your just wanting to buy a power pack, and have it laying around if you don't need it.

There's no sense in it.

I don't see them being in short supply anytime soon.

But, slapping a new one on, and having it get destroyed from another problem is not good, either.

Find the problem first , then look for the cure.

One other thing, to mention, on a side note.

If you've had it 4 years ,and haven't rebuilt your water pump, your well past the due date.

KYHunter
 

miichael18

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 24, 2004
Messages
161
Re: life span of power pack & stator?

My stator when i bought the boat had leaked on the motor. I read that it should be replaced if it was leaking regardless if it works or not. Is this true?
 

KYHunter2

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 20, 2006
Messages
512
Re: life span of power pack & stator?

If your stator is oozing , melted goo.

Yep , surprised its run at all. Or at least very well.

KYHunter
 

miichael18

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 24, 2004
Messages
161
Re: life span of power pack & stator?

so i should just go ahead and replace the stator regardless if that's the problem? Since its leaking? And if that dont fix it then change power pack. Since the stator needs replaced anyway since its leaked.
 

F_R

Supreme Mariner
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28,226
Re: life span of power pack & stator?

Early Mag CD stators had a problem with leaking coils. Replacements are OK (unless you replaced it with another leak-prone one). The good ones are potted in epoxy, while the leak-prone ones had individual coils. You are correct, if they leak they are junk. I've never personally seen a bad potted one.

Power packs are the most often suspected problem when something goes wrong, and also the most often unnecessarily replaced item. In the first place while it is technically possible, they don't usually kill all cylinders at the same time. Disconnect the black/yellow striped wire from the power pack and see if you now have spark on all spark plug wires. If you do, the problem is in the stop circuit, not the power pack. Still no spark? Don't comdem the power pack yet. Check out the stator and sensors and wiring first. You are now getting into the service manual realm.
 

F_R

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28,226
Re: life span of power pack & stator?

I need to clarify my statement about never seeing a bad potted stator. I've been out of the business for a long time now. They might be starting to go bad from plastic deteriation, I just don't know.
 

miichael18

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Mar 24, 2004
Messages
161
Re: life span of power pack & stator?

I already tried the black/yellow kill wire and i have already unhooked the rectifier and tried that. I'm pretty sure its either stator or powerpack. Since stator is leaking ill replace it first then if no fire i will replace power pack. Should i take the stator off and get the numbers off it before ordering? or are they all the same for all 1974 70hp? Mine is a 1974 70Hp Model 70473. It says..

Stator for 70 HP Johnson\Evinrude 2-stroke 1973-78 models 6 amp. Replaces 580950, 581114, 581235, 581301

How do i know if its 6amp? I guess they all are in that model/year?
 

miichael18

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 24, 2004
Messages
161
Re: life span of power pack & stator?

I unhooked the two yellow wires from rectifier and tried cranking the engine and still no fire. Thats how my book told me to test the rectifier.
 
D

DJ

Guest
Re: life span of power pack & stator?

In all my years with OMC products, (20+ owned) I've had one power pack failure and NEVER a stator.

Stators typically fail after a battery mis-connect, or severe overheat.. Usually the rectifier takes the brunt of it.
 

miichael18

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 24, 2004
Messages
161
Re: life span of power pack & stator?

heres the one im going to order.

boatpartstore com/jandesearch.asp?cat=itemname&cval=4&hval=27&val=172

Is it a good one or is it one that can leak to?
 

miichael18

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Mar 24, 2004
Messages
161
Re: life span of power pack & stator?

shouldnt i just go ahead and replace it since its leaked? I been running the boat for 4 years now and it was leaked when i got it.
 

KYHunter2

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 20, 2006
Messages
512
Re: life span of power pack & stator?

I've personally , never had a stator go bad either.

I've read about the potted ones melting, on here .

As far as replacing it, From what others have said, if it leaks replace it.

I guess if its worked four years, and tests , OK.

Then its up to you.

If you can cross reference yours, for a new style potted one, thats what I'd do.

Sounds like the older ones were prone to leaking.

KYHunter
 

miichael18

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 24, 2004
Messages
161
Re: life span of power pack & stator?

See i tested the DC voltage from the brown wire that hooks to the power pack from stator and its getting power to the brown wire. However none of the 3 coils have any power on them. All read 0 when cranking over the engine.
 

F_R

Supreme Mariner
Joined
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Messages
28,226
Re: life span of power pack & stator?

Replace that leaking stator. Even if it's good, it's bad. Never saw a leaking one that was any good. That thing is supposed to put out 300 volts--enough to arc out through any bad insulation. Those ones that you linked to seem to be aftermarket ones--not made by OMC/BRP. Not that that's any cause for alarm in itself. Depends on the quality/reputation of the re-pop mfr.
 

miichael18

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 24, 2004
Messages
161
Re: life span of power pack & stator?

what should i get the aftermarket for $157.99 or the omc for $209.99?
 
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