i recent finished up rebuilding my 80 hp mercury. i replaced the fuel pump, cleaned the carbs, fixed seals in the foot, all the normal stuff on a motor which had been sitting up for 3 years. i have been to teh lake 5 times and 3 of which i actually got to run the motor. of those three times i have always had some type of problem. first it was a bad starter. the second time the idle was really high. i had a tach installed for the second time so i was able to adjust the idle. this third time i began noticing smoke coming out of the control box and when i opened it i found my grey wire completly void of insulation. when i unplugged the tach it stopped heating up. i have heard rectifier problems, stator problems, one buddy of mine even suggested that the wire got grounded out from the new switch i put in. i am looking for more advice. anyone got any ideas, i am a poor man and dont mind turning a wrench or checking stuff
