Mercury V6 XR2 - Does this Stator looks bad?

[Superjetjim]

If your latest idea doesn't pan out, run the motor for a while, anyway you can, to soil the spark plugs. If they are still clean like new, suspect cooling water getting to the spark plugs during running, steam cleaning them, and killing the power in that cylinder.

Thanks Chris.

Latest theory (new coils). Changed things, but didn’t really improve things. It’s bucking when trying to accelerate past 4K RPM’s now, a very defined miss-fire. To rule it out, I’m making a new loom between switch boxes and coils (mine is original and 30yrs old. Could have an intermittent break in the wiring. Whilst I was at this I pulled the exhaust chamber cover. All clear and looked fine. Pistons sides looking really clean and new.

Interesting what you say about the plugs / water getting into cylinders - all 6 of the plugs are really clean and never seems to carbon up… it might also explain where all my cooling water is going (lack of meaningful flow) - at 4K RPM it’s not even registering 5PSI on the water pressure gauge. What pressure would you expect at that RPM? I’ve just ordered a complete OEM water pump kit with new housing and gaskets. I only changed the impeller last time.

Also, where are the likely areas of water intrusion into the cylinders? Heads gasket is one I guess, but any other likely areas?

 

[Dukedog]

your pressures aren't gonna change till you address tha holes in tha adapter plate....................

 

[Superjetjim]

your pressures aren't gonna change till you address tha holes in tha adapter plate....................

Hi Dukedog, any ideas what this is, it was spinning round the outside of the water tube that runs up the leg to powerhead. Made of thin aluminium. Looks like it might have been melted and deformed as sat in the flow of exhaust gases below the exhaust defuser. I've connected a hose up the water inlet tube with the leg off and I have no leaks, just cant figure out what this is or where it came from. Nothing showing on the online parts finder schematics.

 

[Superjetjim]

 

[Dukedog]

not a clue?.. what ever it is it should not have been there...............
tha only thing on tha "outside" of tha tube will be tha plastic guide tube on top of tha pump... it usually gets melted without tha exhaust "can" in place......