1988 V6 Looper Stator Failure Cause or Effect?

[Greg_E]

The stator is about 5 years old but in that time it has relatively few hours. The engine started OK when cold but when the engine was hot it would be difficult to restart, if it sat for a while on a long drift. I checked the stator and the coil with the orange and orange black wires was toasted. The black potting compound had melted and what little that remained was charred. What is the purpose of that coil? The 1986-7 small bore looper stators don't have that coil, so I was thinking that might be for the quickstart, but I don't know.
Also what would cause that to happen? I did find a loose magnet in the flywheel that had shifted to one side a little. I fixed that. I just want to be sure that something in the power pack didn't cause the problem because stators aren't cheap. I've replaced a few stators over the years but it was never that coli that failed. It was always the larger charge coils leaking black goo.

 

[cdeng12345]

The Orange and Orange/Black Wires are for the Quickstart. It powers the Pack with help from the Battery (Yellow/Red Wire) until the engine starts. After that the Powercoil provides the power. When you reference Charge Coil, I assume you are talking about the Brown and Brown/Yellow Wires? This engine I believe had a service bulletin. Here is the information. It is for a 200-250HP 1993-2001. Hope it helps.

Problem:
The engine and electrical system can become damaged by overheating when air is trapped in the upper part of the cooling system. Trapped air can cause the regulator/rectifier to overheat, resulting in damage to the regulator (also damaging the stator) which is not covered under warranty.
Air can become trapped in the top of the block at engine start-up when:

1. The engine is idling with a blocked or restricted thermostat.
2. The engine is started and is not accelerated beyond 1800 RPM (the pop-off valve is designed to open and allow additional cooling water to circulate through the block when the RPM exceeds 1800 RPM). With age and wear, the seal for the pop-off valve plunger gradually conforms to the shape of the plunger and traps air in the top portion of the block. This prevents water from getting to the cooling fins of the regulator/rectifier, causing the regulator/rectifier to overheat and stressing the Stator. The first failure is typically the Power Coil on the Stator, progressing to damage to the rest of the Stator, Power Pack and regulator/rectifier.

Air can also become trapped in the top of the block if:

1. The engine is operated in aerated water, such as a pontoon or deck boat wakes.
2. The engine is operated too high on the transom.

Solution:

1. Remove the pop-off valve and disassemble it.
2. Using a 1/8” drill bit, drill a hole through the plunger from the back side of the plunger as close to the center as possible. This allows air to be vented from the top of the cooling system and helps ensure an adequate water level when the engine is run below 1800 RPM.
3. Re-assemble the pop-off valve and re-install it in the block as per the service manual. NOTE: It is recommended that the rectifier/regulator be replaced after the modification has been done as some of the rectifier/regulator’s internal parts may have un-detectable damage.

 

[flyingscott]

What motor co you have? A 1988 V6 would not be a looper or have quick start. The magnet is definitely a problem and needs to be addressed.

 

[Greg_E]

cdeng12345:

Thanks for that information. Yes the coils with the Brown and Brown/Yellow wires is what have always been the problem in the past when I had to replace a stator. Easy enough fix. I might even have a spare regulator. I replaced the thermostats a few years ago and the cooling system seems to work normally as well as the charging system and tach, but who knows. If that is the problem, I probably just made it worse . Because it was hard to restart I would leave it idling while drift fishing. Never seemed to get overly hot wile idling , at least according to the temp gauge.
I'm not sure if that service bulletin applies Was that a different block in 1993?

flyingscott:
The Flywheel has already been repaired. I've had these engines for years. Evinrude 225 V6 is a Looper and it was the first year for Quick Start. The 1986 and 87 200 and 225's were also loopers (but small bore) but no Quick Start.

 

[Faztbullet]

Greg none of that applies to your motor only the closed deck blocks. Your motor has the water valve that lets the t-stat/poppet assy open and close on the heads. The coil is for your Quikstart feature..fix it and see what happens. Some time after a long idle and then shut down, the engine heat will boil off the fuel vapors inside block and you will have to use choke to restart(no throttle)

 

[flyingscott]

Is this a factory or aftermarket stator?

 

[Greg_E]

flyingscott:
It was a CDI stator. The new one is an Evinrude part in a sealed box but when I opened it, it was obvious that it too was a CDI stator. "Touchless Manufacturing" Take the order, have someone else make the part, mark it up and collect the cash.

Faztbullet: Good to hear from you again. I haven't been on the forum much lately. I finally built up a motor with that small bore powerhead I got from you years ago. If spring ever comes to CT I'll fire it up on the stand. Snow again today.

 

[flyingscott]

Yup CDIs quality has been slipping.

 

[Greg_E]

One last question on this subject. The power coils appear to be in good condition and I did a resistance checks across the brown and brown yellow wires and the readings were in spec. The charging coils for the battery (yellow wires) also are in good shape and I had no issues related to that. I have removed the orange wires and the burnt windings for the Quickstart. Can this stator now be used as a spare for a 1986-87 that didn't have Quckstart? The CDI stator on the 1986 that I have looks the same as the 1988 stator just without that coil. Also the laminations that the windings would be wrapped around have been trimmed off of the 1986 but I don't see how it would affect anything if I left them.

 

[Faztbullet]

Yep will work fine...