FIrst time iboats post. I recently got handed down my dad's old 14ft carolina skiff with a '92 mercury 25 hp 2stroke in October '16. Boat had been sitting for 3 years until I went and got it from him in FL (he had a stroke and couldn't use it anymore and it just sat in the barn - stubborn to get rid of it). Nothing wrong with the boat aside from minor restoration, motor he bought used from a boat shop in 2005 and took me about a week to get it fired up after getting it home to NC. Changed water pump, lower unit oil, spark plugs, new gas tank, new fuel line, new fuel filter. Second trip out on the lake (december) and the engine sputters out as i'm crossing the lake. Thought it might be flooded, tried to clear it out but still just couldn't get it to start. Had to use trolling motor to get back (still caught fish trolling in!).
Looked at it when I got home and noticed I wasn't getting a spark on one of my two spark plugs. I am not very mechanically inclined, I do not have any tools or know how to test charges...etc. After this situation I may take it upon myself to learn...
Took it into the boat shop, they told me they couldn't get a spark on either plug (first thing that doesn't make sense - because i triple checked that I could get a good blue spark on the one plug before i brought it in to make sure I knew what to tell them). They ran 'tests' to see where the issue could be, said they got a good reading from everything except could not get a reading coming out of the CDI pack. They said replacing this should fix it. Had them replace the CDI pack. Guy called me and said when they put the new CDI pack on they had good spark on both plugs, went to lunch, came back and put it in the water tank to run it and couldn't get it to fire up. Said they no longer had a spark on either plug (wtf?). Ran more tests and now said they were not getting any reading from the stator (second thing that doesn't make sense - said they had good reading from stator 1 day prior).
Now they suggest to replace stator and possibly trigger (without any guarantee it will fix problem) - lot of money for what i thought was going to be routine coil or wire replacement. I told them not to effin touch anything else. Any thoughts? Are these guys jerking my chain?? I don't know what to think because 1) they couldn't find a spark when i know i had a spark on one plug and 2) from the time they went to lunch to the time they got back they lost spark on both plugs after installing new CDI pack?? Could a new CDI pack make other electrical parts go bad (like the stator, trigger..etc)?
I apologize for any ignorance in my post on what I should have done before bringing it in or the questions I'm asking. I grew up on the water fishing but have never owned a boat or maintained one, just always a passenger until now. I am so stoked about having this boat and now bummed that on second trip the motor giving me problems. Yes, motor has alot of hours on it, and it had been sitting for a few years, but it was well maintained under my dad's care (he is obsessed with maintaining his stuff) until his stroke. I appreciate any thoughts on what I should do next.
Looked at it when I got home and noticed I wasn't getting a spark on one of my two spark plugs. I am not very mechanically inclined, I do not have any tools or know how to test charges...etc. After this situation I may take it upon myself to learn...
Took it into the boat shop, they told me they couldn't get a spark on either plug (first thing that doesn't make sense - because i triple checked that I could get a good blue spark on the one plug before i brought it in to make sure I knew what to tell them). They ran 'tests' to see where the issue could be, said they got a good reading from everything except could not get a reading coming out of the CDI pack. They said replacing this should fix it. Had them replace the CDI pack. Guy called me and said when they put the new CDI pack on they had good spark on both plugs, went to lunch, came back and put it in the water tank to run it and couldn't get it to fire up. Said they no longer had a spark on either plug (wtf?). Ran more tests and now said they were not getting any reading from the stator (second thing that doesn't make sense - said they had good reading from stator 1 day prior).
Now they suggest to replace stator and possibly trigger (without any guarantee it will fix problem) - lot of money for what i thought was going to be routine coil or wire replacement. I told them not to effin touch anything else. Any thoughts? Are these guys jerking my chain?? I don't know what to think because 1) they couldn't find a spark when i know i had a spark on one plug and 2) from the time they went to lunch to the time they got back they lost spark on both plugs after installing new CDI pack?? Could a new CDI pack make other electrical parts go bad (like the stator, trigger..etc)?
I apologize for any ignorance in my post on what I should have done before bringing it in or the questions I'm asking. I grew up on the water fishing but have never owned a boat or maintained one, just always a passenger until now. I am so stoked about having this boat and now bummed that on second trip the motor giving me problems. Yes, motor has alot of hours on it, and it had been sitting for a few years, but it was well maintained under my dad's care (he is obsessed with maintaining his stuff) until his stroke. I appreciate any thoughts on what I should do next.
