iboats - The #1 Store For Everything Boating
 
  #1  
Old August 13th, 2009, 11:46 AM
duck0872 duck0872 is offline
Cadet
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 14
Default Mariner 60 cylinder #3 not firing

Alright guys, i'm about at my wit's end with this motor. I have a 1986 Mariner 60 hp 3 cylinder. For some reason I'm not firing on cylinder #3. The motor will idle and run up to about 2000 rpm, and then will die with continued throttle. If I throttle up slowly it will climb to 3000 rpm and no higher, no matter how much throttle I give it. I went over the fuel system top to bottom, rebuilt the carbs and fuel pump (both were needed anyway) and it's solid. All 3 cylinders have good compression. After replacing the plugs and running the motor for a bit I checked the plugs again. 1 and 2 had signs of firing, but #3 looked like it just came out of the box. I used a spark tester and comfirmed that #3 has spark but seemed very weak compared to the other cylinders. While idling I pulled each of the spark plug wires. When #1 was pulled it killed the engine, #2 dropped rpm severely, but #3 only slightly dropped the rpm. I did a coil substitution and the problem stayed on the #3 cylinder no matter which coil was firing it. I used and ohm meter and got good resistance readings on the trigger and coils, but could not get a reading on the low side of the stator and the high side measured out of spec. I'm thinking it could be either the switchbox or the stator, or both for that matter, but I'm unsure how to proceed, and I don't want to throw money at both parts if I only need one. The fact that there's only 1 cylinder without spark and that the problem did not change after substituting coils leads me to the switchbox, but I'm also concerned about the the stator measurements. Then again i was under the impression that a stator would lead to problems on multiple cylinders, and I'm not sure that I can trust the multimeter on all the readings. I've read other threads where guys got bad readings and the stator was fine. If I pull the switchbox will a mercury dealer be able to test it? Am I on the right track?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old August 13th, 2009, 12:19 PM
Laddies Laddies is offline
Supreme Mariner
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: northern michigan
Posts: 10,635
Default Re: Mariner 60 cylinder #3 not firing

If your trigger has output on #3 then the only thing that can effect spark on 1 cyl. is the switchbox, coil or the wire inbetween the 2. The only way to test a switch box is with a DVA by checking input and output voltage while on the engine.
__________________
PLEASE, no service questions in PMs thats what the forums are for.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old August 25th, 2009, 11:59 PM
duck0872 duck0872 is offline
Cadet
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 14
Default Re: Mariner 60 cylinder #3 not firing

The DVA meter is on the way. Anyone have the voltage specs and test procedure for this motor?
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old August 26th, 2009, 08:55 AM
Laddies Laddies is offline
Supreme Mariner
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: northern michigan
Posts: 10,635
Default Re: Mariner 60 cylinder #3 not firing

__________________
PLEASE, no service questions in PMs thats what the forums are for.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old August 26th, 2009, 11:46 PM
duck0872 duck0872 is offline
Cadet
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 14
Default Re: Mariner 60 cylinder #3 not firing

thanks laddies, hopefully the dva meter will be here tomorrow and I can get down to business and back to fishing
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Mariner 60 cylinder #3 not firing duck0872 Mercury & Mariner Outboards 2 August 13th, 2009 01:34 PM
#1 cylinder not firing davis11111 Yamaha & Suzuki Outboards 9 July 9th, 2009 06:01 PM
#3 cylinder still not firing....... audi42005 Force & Chrysler Outboards 2 July 30th, 2006 08:40 PM
cylinder not firing handyman3 Force & Chrysler Outboards 2 July 22nd, 2002 06:57 AM
not firing on one cylinder dsteers Johnson & Evinrude Outboards 4 May 17th, 2002 05:47 PM

iboats Forum Directory
Over 100,000 forum posts organized by topic
Outboard Motor Topics
Mercury Outboards
Johnson Outboards
Evinrude Outboards
Force Outboards
Yamaha Outboards
Mariner Outboards
Suzuki Outboards
Honda Outboards
Chrysler Outboards
Tohatsu Outboards
Nissan Outboards
Outboard Motors: non-repair
Vintage Outboards

I/O and Inboard Topics
MerCruiser
OMC I/O, Inboard
Volvo Penta

Propeller Help
Boat Propellers

Boat Repair and Products
Boat Building and Repair
Fiberglass Boat Repair
Marine Electronics
Boat Trailers and Towing
Boat Names
Boat Covers
Boat Parts

Boating Activities Talk
Boating Topics and Questions
Boating Activities and Destinations
Boating Blunders
Boat Shows
Wakeboarding
Water Skiing

Fishing Discussions
Freshwater Fishing
Saltwater Fishing

Boat Type Topics
Aluminum Boats
Bass Boats
Bowrider Boats
Center Console Boats
Cruiser Boats
Cuddy Cabin Boats
Deckboats
Fishing Boats
Fish and Ski Boats
Houseboats
Jet Boats
Jon Boats
Pontoon Boats
Powerboats
PWC Forum
Ski Boats
New Boats
Used Boats

Boat Manufacturers
Boats 250+ Manufacturers
Bayliner Boats
Sea Ray Boats
Zodiac Boats



Outboards

Power Heads

Lower Units

Propellers

Inflatable Boats

Boat Manuals

Engine Parts

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:11 PM.