Mercury 115 Electrocution

[prototec]

This may sound like a funny problem but it's not when it happens to me. My motor starts and runs fine at idle but as I found out in a very painful way when I was wet, as soon as I throttled up the motor started missing and the steering and throttle handle fired me up with about 10,000 volts making for a very bad day. I HATE getting shocked!! I feel it is more than 12v battery like I say about 10,000 volts. I changed the plugs, wires, checked connections last year. Yesterday I found one of the yellow wires running from the stator had darkened and had a split on the insulation but no where near a grounding source. Someone please help before I get fried.

 

[OperativeK]

Re: Mercury 115 Electrocution

You need to inspect your entire external wiring harness and all the motor wiring. Take your time and eliminate a section at a time.

 

[Laddies]

Re: Mercury 115 Electrocution

If it's an older 115 with a dist you probably have a plug wire shorting out right to the control cables below the cap

 

[prototec]

Re: Mercury 115 Electrocution

It is a 1985 model, sorry I forgot to include that info.

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Mercury 115 Electrocution

Sorry, I did chuckle a little when I read the topic heading. I had an old Chevelle once that gave me a good shock everytime I turned on the windshield wipers. Can't remember how I fixed it but I know it was quite a jolt. Must have only been 12V though. Check all the grounds for good connections. I would think that even if you did have a short somewhere that the voltage should not be trying to go through you to get to ground.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Mercury 115 Electrocution

Moonman, Even on a non distributor model, the spark plug leads can touch the block, which is connected to the shift arm to the shift cable to the control box. I would run your fingers over each plug lead, or better yet, run the motor in the dark and look for arcing. Also, check to assure there are ground wires from the exhaust extension to the lower cowling.