Regulator/rectifier

[Old Okie]

First off THANKS for allowing me to join your forum!! I hope I can help a little on older merc stuff
Have a 40 hp mercury tracker and have installed 2 regulator & rectifier 6wire units on this engine and they start and run until I hook up timing light and it flashes a few times then i turn it off to make an adjustment on the advanceing rod and when I restart each time no flash on the #1 cyl coils exchanged and coils proves to be ok for both both times # 1 cyl is the dead one any help would be a great help. This is getting expensive when your 80 and on a pension and dumb on this new stuff. THANKS Old Okie

 

[Faztbullet]

Explain exacting what you are doing? You do not hook up timing light to rec/reg to check timing.

 

[Old Okie]

No sir I am hooking up the timing light to the #1 top cyl it is a 2 cyl engine and I just cannot figure out why the rectifier go's bad as soon as I get the timing mark, it reads 4 ATDC I turn it off to make adjust and when I restart the engine the light will flash once or twice then go out the flywheel is turning clockwise and runs so/so but I need to get to 2-4 BTDC. I am at a loss for reason. THANKS I will try anything you suggest.

 

[merc850]

1:The rec/reg is for the battery charging system- the battery must be connected and fully charged? 12,5v Do not use the system for charging a weak or dead battery.
2: If the spark is failing it is probably the ignition stator [which is a different circuit] or the trigger.
3: Timing light hooks up to the battery directly.
Maybe you could post a picture of your hook-up method for clarity.

 

[Old Okie]

I have the light connected correctly neg and pos correct and signal lead to the #1 plug with the arrow on the plug side. I cannot send a picture until my daughter gets home. I understand the black box above the reg is a rev limiter I have not removed it or anything. Battery is fully charged. I have pulled the flywheel and the wires are in fine shape, I'm miffed. I plan on getting another rect/reg today.

 

[merc850]

Who's telling you to buy these rectifiers, I think they're misleading you.

 

[Old Okie]

The first time I took it to boat shop and they put in a new rectifier, and coil when I got home and it was idling rough and dying so I checked the carb and all seemed ok closed and the roller was just touching put the light on it and it was about 4-6 ATDC moved the spark advance to about TDC and lost the flash and #1cyl was not getting fire. Took it back and they had it 2 days said they replaced the rect/reg hooked it to a hose and it ran so they credited me for the other r/r and got me for a little north of $500. got it home and started right up but was rough idle not bad but shaking So I went to time it and same as before when I put the light on it it lost spark on #1 doing I have a new R/R and will install it but I'm going to have someone who can use a ohm meter to see if they all are ok. Trying to find out what they show. THANKS Okie.

 

[Old Okie]

Who's telling you to buy these rectifiers, I think they're misleading you.

I haven't returned to that dealer I'm just trying anything myself. And may I say a big THANK YOU for your help. Could not try anything today the missus is feeling bad

 

[Old Okie]

took off the flywheel and trigger today the flywheel looks fine the keyway is good, the trigger has 3 wires that look ok has 2 other wires that are cut off even with the place where they come out of the trigger- yellow wires no apperant use will put back together in a little bit running in and out of house with the missus.

 

[merc850]

The yellow wires are usually for the alternator and they go to the rectifier to charge the battery so they don't affect the ignition. If you can post a pic. of the "rectifier" it would help. You use the serial nr. to look for manuals and parts.

 

[Old Okie]

Got another rectifier today but am not going to install until I find out more. I have the flywheel off and the trigger and stator on the work bench. I need to find how to check them. Here are some pic's these are some of the rectifiers that I have ruined, there was another but the dealer kept the first one and one is on the motor. The motor runs with all of them on the bottom cyl but none makes fire on the top cyl.The motor is a 2001 mecury tracker, sn/OT218774 40ELPT here are some pic's

 

[Faztbullet]

First where are the OEM printed part numbers? Are those Amazon junk? Sounds like you have a CDM module bad.

 

[Old Okie]

where is the CDM located?? I will look for numbers..

 

[Faztbullet]

The CDM is the small module with coil wire

 

[Old Okie]

OK thats what I keep replacing, I can put a new one on and it runs on both cyl;s till I put on a timing light and then the top cyl go's dead- no spark remove the light and still have lost the top cyl. Same thing with the 256.oo dollar one from the dealer or the 28.00 from ebay, Can an inductive timing light cause this to happen?? The on I have is an old craftsman from the 70's

 

[bwkre]

I have the light connected correctly neg and pos correct and signal lead to the #1 plug with the arrow on the plug side.

Might just be your choice of wording, but to me this implies that you are using an old direct connect timing light. With that type of timing light the "signal" lead hooks directly to the plug wire. That would not be an inductive pickup timing light. Just asking.

 

[Old Okie]

Might just be your choice of wording, but to me this implies that you are using an old direct connect timing light. With that type of timing light the "signal" lead hooks directly to the plug wire. That would not be an inductive pickup timing light. Just asking.

It says on the side of the light sears inductive by Penske

 

[bwkre]

Will your motor start & run on just the lower cylinder, you could clamp the timing light on the lower and see if it stops flashing using one of the old parts you have replaced. Or just crank and observe.
Other option might be to use a separate 12v source to power the timing light. Then you would have no direct connection to the motor, only magnetic coupling through the clamp on pick up. That's how I check my motor that has no battery or charge system.

 

[Old Okie]

That sounds super ideal, will try in the morning, I'm so messed up right now Have to take wife in for more tests getting old sucks .... THANKS Okie (Dallas)

 

[merc850]

Is this your light? Have you tried running the motor without the rectifier connected and not attaching the timing light - just let it run. The black and red clamps should be connected to the battery directly. Then stop it and hook up the rectifier (all the leads) and run it again, if you have a VOM check the battery for an increase in voltage [1-2v] but don't rev it beyond 2,500 in N. You said the Yellow wires were cut if you can access them while the motor is running put an AC voltmeter across them [50v setting] and see if you get a reading.