Stator question for 35hp Mercury

[burns114422]

Looking for some advise/help from my fellow boater's/do it yourself mechanics.

I've got a 1986 35h.p. Mercury outboard. It runs absolutly great! But my tach. didn't work so I bought a new one. Hooked it up, and still nothing.
I got out my manual, and tested the rectifier which was good. As soon as I get back to the house I'm going to run the test that my manual recommends on the stator. My question is, if the stator is "bad" (and I think it is because my batery voltage of 12.55 volts doesn't change when motor is running) would that cause the motor to run or preform any different? The stator is basicly an alternator for charging the battery, and Tachometer signal right??? Any help or suggestions would be great.

Thanks

 

[BatDaddy1887]

Re: Stator question for 35hp Mercury

...on the back of the tach should be settings. Search google with your serial # to find the correct setting. It will be either 2P, 4P or 6P (pulses), this is a good start....

You can also try new spark plugs.....

Most engines get about 14v from the stator. Also, if the previous owner put that stator in recently, he may have inserted it incorrectly. A misaligned stator could still start and run an engine with fairly good results if other compensations were made, (and they usually are). As time goes on the problem will likely begin to show up as a rough idle and poor performance (lower than normal max RPM).

The above is the reason we stress the use of a DVA when reading voltages from the stator. The test for a misaligned stator is first the spark tester, then the voltage at the positive side of the coil. Finally you need to test the stator to see if it is producing the correct voltage. If the stator is misaligned or out of sync with the trigger it should still produce the voltages it is supposed to. If the stator is producing the correct voltage, turn it 1 screw hole in either direction and retest at the coil. If the voltage is now lower or non existent at the coil then the problem is not the stator it is the switch box. Put the stator back to the original position, replace the switch box and test again. If the voltage at the coil is now correct, you are done.