mercury problems

[stu1288]

hi me and a freind went down the river the other week he has got a 15ft fletcher and a 50hp mercury on the back. We got both boats in the water and made our way down towards the pub (havin a little play in each others wakes) all well and good i showed him how much better a rib was then turned to come back he's boat was running well untill just before our slipway then he shouted across she is spluttering he tryed to open her up and she died.
I stopped my boat and gave him a few mins to sort his problem out but she would'nt start for him so i tugged him back up.

popped round to see him other day and he cant get her started he cant get a spark on all 3 plugs why could this be can any 1 help us

thanx stuart

[Paul F]

could be a few things.
Fuse? kill cord? Stop circuit, stator.
Start with the stop circuit first.
Paul

[stu1288]

i dont think it is any fuses as i have checked them kill cord seems ok too i pulled it out and pushed back up again whats the, stator , and what is the stop circuit i think i now now just wana be sure.

cheers stu

[GaryD]

could be a flat battery caused by a knackered stator? It happened to me before and the fault was a flat battery. The stator was buggered and wasnt charging the battery....just a suggestion.

What age is the engine?

[stu1288]

no the battery turns the engine over very well just cant get a spark wat is a stator

[Ian Sharlot]

Hi. Take your flywheel off and you will find it under there. Windings of copper wire, a bit like the inside of an electric motor

[Biggles]

Look at the wiring. Is this an old boat ?

My guess is its something to do with old damp wiring.

Engines just don't die from mechanical reasons.

They might run like sh_t which indicates a mechanical problem, but completely dead is usually a wiring/electrical problem. Or maybe fuel, but even then they run but just lumpy.

Guess a few more details are needed.

[Biggles]

Originally Posted by Cracker

Hi. Take your flywheel off and you will find it under there. Windings of copper wire, a bit like the inside of an electric motor

Thats a major job. Don't do it unless your an expert. Even with a knackered stator it should still run, just won't charge.

By the way I'm no engine expert. Just had loads of my own problems to sort out.

[stu1288]

The boat is a 95 i think i think it could be sumthing to do with the wiring as the fuel is ok and that wudnt stop us getting a spark anyway neither would the stator would it must be the wiring strange that it run 4 a bit though aint it. the way it cut out made it seem like a fuel problem

too many wires on the dam thing why cant they make em simple like yamaha's

[Biggles]

stu,

This site isn't really the place to get good engine problems answered. you need to go to www.iboats.com.

But be prepared to supply a lot of details.

My guess is though your problem is quite simple.

Unfortunately that is once someone has worked out what it is. And at the end of the day we all have to earn a living and pay GB his taxes. You will get there eventually but it will take a lot of time.

If you can why not take it to a outboard repairer. Its a slack time of the year and at least they will give you some idea of how much it will cost to get fixed.