Conference vicki::boats

I have a 8hp, around the same year. I've had a lot of problems with the barrel
connectors that are mounted on the right side of the engine (front view).
I think the make the connection from under the flywheel to the spark coil.
Any dirt, salt or water and the engine wouldn't run. I ended up cutting them
out and soldering them.

Steve

    
      I highly doubt 2 coils would go bad at the same time. Also, you
    SHOULD have an open between the primary and secondary coils. They are
    magnetically coupled. The secondary coil runs from the spark plug wire
    to ground. I don't know what the resistance should be.
    
      This is a dual system, but with no spark at all, you have to look at
    the single-point failure places. You started in the right places, the
    kill switch area. The switches may be good, but I would check every
    wire to and from them. Also, see what other common single-point
    can stop the spark.
    
    				Kenny

    I know nothing about the outboard in question but what about the
    points, (if it has any)?  Has this engine been in storage for any
    length of time?  Sometimes moisture collects on the points and turns to
    rust.  A small file or some sand paper will clean them up no problem.
    
    Wayne

    re .2 You are right..
    
       Put in a new set of coils (actually the Mercury coil upgrade kit, 
    2 new coils, gapless spark plugs and wiring for $45 rather than 2 coils
    for $66), and it didn't work.
    
       Getting pissed at the clymer manual ( 1 book for 7 different
    engines), I called Wis. and talked to the Mercury technical folks. He
    said that I couldn't measure without some type of bizzaro meter they
    sell to their dealers and public for $80 (guess it must be time to 
    throw away the $400 fluke unit huh??).
    
       Running out of time, a friend told me of a marine mechanic who would
    be willing to look at it. Well he looked at it and pronouced that the
    switch box was bad. Something about the rectifier going south for no 
    reason and he had seen one just the other week.
    
       Running around trying to find the right switch box proved futile.
    There were none in the area. The next morning on my way to the boat, i
    started calling Mercury dealers along the way. I finally found a switch
    box in Maine. After buying it, a discusion with the owner said 
    it really sounded like a trigger. This place was willing to look at the
    motor that evening (I couldn't get an appointment for at least 2 weeks
    in all the other places I had been (this a really BUSY time of year).
    
       By the time I got home, there was a message saying it was indeed the
    trigger and not the switch box, and they didn't have one (they had
    warned me about this possibility while I was at the shop). I had them
    federal express the part from Wisc. and the engine should be ready
    tomorrow.
    
        things I have learned:
    
    1. Mercury outboard dealers are hard to come by compared to OMC folks.
    
    2. Dealers don't have seem to have a lot of inventory lying around
       (must use A-B-C analysis).
    
    3. The majority of the dealers have been really pleasent to deal with.
       Most of mom & pop shops and willing to give you a hand if they can.
       I thought this type of behavior died in the 80s.
    
    Thanks for the help folks.
    
      john

re: .4
You forgot to mention a couple of other rules about motors in general and
Merc's in particular.

>> Getting pissed at the clymer manual ( 1 book for 7 different engines)

The aftermarket manuals are *OK* for general repairs and maintenance,
but for more difficult repairs or troubleshooting, the FACTORY shop
manuals are the only way to go.

>> 1. Mercury outboard dealers are hard to come by compared to OMC folks.
   
Not only are Merc outboard dealers harder to come by (although there are 
still LOTS of them), but Merc outboards are harder to work on, and require 
special tools for almost everything.  They seem "over-engineered" and more 
complicated than necessary. I have one older Merc that requires two special
tools just to change the water pump!  OMC motors are much simpler, and most
repairs can be done with nothing more than a flywheel puller and a basic set
of hand tools.

Rick

    Rick, you just hit the essence of the British Seagull outboards.
    
    Simplicity = reliability.  "If it aint' there it can't break".
    
    Jeff