Re: Mercury Outboard Switch Box Failures
Well, thought I would provide an update... After several water trips with several hours runtime per trip, everything appears to be working. This includes some skiing, cruising, high and low speed runs and semi-long idling while in gear.
This is after installing a new CDI Stator, Trigger, two Mallory Switch Boxes, and removing the Idle Stabilizer while resetting the timing to 22 degs at WOT cranking. I also reset the idle up a little due to it dying on occasion when placed it in gear.
So far the outboard has performed very well. I have suspicions that the idle stabilizer “may” have been a contributing cause to the switch box failures, if not the root cause. We shall see. Hopefully the weather will hold out for a couple more trips out!
On a side note, I also installed a voltage regulator to make the old recharging circuit more modern battery friendly. Before it was straight off the stator charging coils and would max out at +16 volts. The regulator keeps it clamped to around 14.5 volts. Much better!
The starter has been dragging a little when it is first engaged, but once it gets the motor turning over it seems OK. I cleaned it out but it did not seem to help. I will probably try to delay the replacement until spring now.
Other than the starter thing, so far so good!
Thanks for all the suggestions!
Well, thought I would provide an update... After several water trips with several hours runtime per trip, everything appears to be working. This includes some skiing, cruising, high and low speed runs and semi-long idling while in gear.
This is after installing a new CDI Stator, Trigger, two Mallory Switch Boxes, and removing the Idle Stabilizer while resetting the timing to 22 degs at WOT cranking. I also reset the idle up a little due to it dying on occasion when placed it in gear.
So far the outboard has performed very well. I have suspicions that the idle stabilizer “may” have been a contributing cause to the switch box failures, if not the root cause. We shall see. Hopefully the weather will hold out for a couple more trips out!
On a side note, I also installed a voltage regulator to make the old recharging circuit more modern battery friendly. Before it was straight off the stator charging coils and would max out at +16 volts. The regulator keeps it clamped to around 14.5 volts. Much better!
The starter has been dragging a little when it is first engaged, but once it gets the motor turning over it seems OK. I cleaned it out but it did not seem to help. I will probably try to delay the replacement until spring now.
Other than the starter thing, so far so good!
Thanks for all the suggestions!