88 Mercury 45/50 hp Classic 2 Stroke help!

[WadmalawJoe]

I will get right to the point; my teenage son (17 yr old) picked up two Mercury outboards, one says 45, one says 50 Classic, he did some research and is confident that they’re pretty much the same motor. Anyway, he now has them torn apart, one is partially rebuilt, turns over but not firing, spark looks weak to me. He has no good pictures of how the wiring was or is supposed to be. I would love some help with that if anyone has pictures or a wiring diagram.
I am proud of him for his projects where most teenagers these days are into video games and social media. I am now involved in helping him getting it running. YouTube is a help and making some progress but, looking for more help especially with the wiring.
The 50 Classic was on his boat, he took it off and has the 45 hp on it because it has power trim and tilt (which is working, progress there). The 45 he rebuilt with new pistons /rebuild kit.
I have a flywheel question as well, he obviously removed it to do the rebuild, there’s not a key way I guess and well he didn’t mark the location it was sitting at and the timing marks are useless at this point, off by a couple inches. I think it’s a matter of unbolting the flywheel and bolting it down when #1 is TDC and line the marks up reasonably. Then actually be able to check timing vs making new marks.

 

[BWR1953]

There should be a keyway on the flywheel.

 

[BWR1953]

These pix are from my 1985 Merc 50hp 4 cylinder 2-stroke.

 

[WadmalawJoe]

Thanks! I just went back looking at it, the two stators are different, the 45 has the one pictured above, 2 yellow wires, 2 reds and 2 blues (the blues I got nothing on ohms testing)
the Classic 50, looks to be aftermarket replacement items pictured below;

 

[WadmalawJoe]

Testing the two blue on the aftermarket?

 

[WadmalawJoe]

These pix are from my 1985 Merc 50hp 4 cylinder 2-stroke.

View attachment 399827

View attachment 399828

My son has been unbolting the 8 bolts around the flywheel and separating the pieces.

 

[Faztbullet]

Thats not aftermarket..thats a red stator kit. The adapter needs DVA tested as output on blues should be 250V +. You need FACTORY service manuals to tinker with these.

 

[WadmalawJoe]

Thats not aftermarket..thats a red stator kit. The adapter needs DVA tested as output on blues should be 250V +. You need FACTORY service manuals to tinker with these.

Thanks Faztbullet and thanks BWR1953, your help has been greatly appreciated as we work on getting it running again. I’ve been on the fence whether to get service manuals or not. Service manual is like a marriage license to me, makes me commit and cost me money, lol, so I have been trying to decide, commit or not…

 

[BWR1953]

Thanks Faztbullet and thanks BWR1953, your help has been greatly appreciated as we work on getting it running again. I’ve been on the fence whether to get service manuals or not. Service manual is like a marriage license to me, makes me commit and cost me money, lol, so I have been trying to decide, commit or not…

My advice is to just go ahead and get the service manual. I've purchased them from ebay for about 50 bucks. My most recent was only $35. That's like a couple lunches at a fast food place. And they can be resold if you get to a point where you don't need them. But, be sure to get an OEM manual, not the off-brand types.

 

[racerone]

A manual can save you so much money and frustration.-----Cheaper than 1 hr at most shops.