Hi Guys

I think the stator on my (Mercury Built) Force 120HP has died. Symptom - No
Spark!

To test it I need to check the DVA output - question is: Do I need to get a
specialised meter to do this, or will a standard Voltmeter (ammeter)
suffice. I've got both analogue and digital meters (which has a "hold"
function).

Any feedback appreciated.

Cheers
Kenny

Allo Kenny - are you sure it's your stator? I'm sure youre right, but
here's my (all too recent) tale of engines...I'm typing with greasy fingers


Take your engine to a Boat Doctor with "problems running/starting" and the
first thiing they change is the Stator. Now maybe Mercury make the most
unreliable windings inthe world, but there have been 3 on my engine in the
last 200 hours of use. Something tells me that I've been had.

I've found the reason why I "needed" the last stator (fitted three weeks
ago). FUBAR'd plug leads. I have yet to send the removed stator (20 hours
use/18 months old) back to Mercury for testing but my guess is it will be
fine.

Oh how could I tell it was the leads? Cos I was tanking up Southampton
Water on full chat when suddenly I was down to 30% power. Back to base and
examine those leads... absolutely knackered, including puncture holes inthe
insulation and a N/C when checked.

Those leads however.... waited for a week and a half for the manufacturers
set and got bored waiting. Popped down to Halfords and picked up some
HotWires leads and - as if by magic - those £3.99 leads do the job of a £25
lead from Mercury.

Well. actually there is an issue - the "cheapo" leads have naff all
insulation on the plug cap and it seems to be grounding to the engine
casing!

Yep, case off and the engine runs fine... case on and it hardly runs at all.
Looks like the insulation on the plug lead is breaking down and shorting to
the only bit of metal on the case - the spine of the clamshell that fits
over the plugs. Maybe I shoudlnt go for the *really* cheap leads..maybe
spend an extra couple of quid per lead for a better plug cap

Kev

"Kenny" wrote in message
...
Hi Guys

I think the stator on my (Mercury Built) Force 120HP has died. Symptom -
No
Spark!

To test it I need to check the DVA output - question is: Do I need to get
a
specialised meter to do this, or will a standard Voltmeter (ammeter)
suffice. I've got both analogue and digital meters (which has a "hold"
function).

Any feedback appreciated.

Cheers
Kenny

KevC

Thanks for the advice.

But in this case, it was the Stator. Everything else looked fine, I then
took it to a marine mechanic I can trust.

£300 (£200 for the stator) later and all is well. Thanks Mercury for
designing a duff black stator.

Cheers
Kenny

"KevC" wrote in message
...
Allo Kenny - are you sure it's your stator? I'm sure youre right, but
here's my (all too recent) tale of engines...I'm typing with greasy
fingers


Take your engine to a Boat Doctor with "problems running/starting" and the
first thiing they change is the Stator. Now maybe Mercury make the most
unreliable windings inthe world, but there have been 3 on my engine in the
last 200 hours of use. Something tells me that I've been had.

I've found the reason why I "needed" the last stator (fitted three weeks
ago). FUBAR'd plug leads. I have yet to send the removed stator (20 hours
use/18 months old) back to Mercury for testing but my guess is it will be
fine.

Oh how could I tell it was the leads? Cos I was tanking up Southampton
Water on full chat when suddenly I was down to 30% power. Back to base
and
examine those leads... absolutely knackered, including puncture holes
inthe
insulation and a N/C when checked.

Those leads however.... waited for a week and a half for the manufacturers
set and got bored waiting. Popped down to Halfords and picked up some
HotWires leads and - as if by magic - those £3.99 leads do the job of a
£25
lead from Mercury.

Well. actually there is an issue - the "cheapo" leads have naff all
insulation on the plug cap and it seems to be grounding to the engine
casing!

Yep, case off and the engine runs fine... case on and it hardly runs at
all.
Looks like the insulation on the plug lead is breaking down and shorting
to
the only bit of metal on the case - the spine of the clamshell that fits
over the plugs. Maybe I shoudlnt go for the *really* cheap leads..maybe
spend an extra couple of quid per lead for a better plug cap

Kev

"Kenny" wrote in message
...
Hi Guys

I think the stator on my (Mercury Built) Force 120HP has died. Symptom -
No
Spark!

To test it I need to check the DVA output - question is: Do I need to
get
a
specialised meter to do this, or will a standard Voltmeter (ammeter)
suffice. I've got both analogue and digital meters (which has a "hold"
function).

Any feedback appreciated.

Cheers
Kenny