1994 mercury tracker 40 hp. 2 cylinders not firing, help?

[lukebecker]

Hey everyone,

At the end of duck season my 1994 merc 40hp started acting up. It always starts easily but now all I could do it put it into gear and drive slowly around. If i tried giving it more gas it wouldnt go any faster and would start to bog down, occasionally shutting off. At first we assumed that perhaps the high speed jet was clogged up so we pulled the carburators off to check it out and they were virtually spotless. We cleaned them anyhow but when we tried to run the motor nothing changed. Then we started checking everything we could and pulled all of the plugs only to find that the top two plugs looked brand new with no sign of firing. We changed out the top two plugs but still saw that there was not spark getting to them so we followed the wires into the big wiring box (not sure what its called) on the starboard side of the motor. In there we tried switching the cold packs from one of the cylinders that we know worked to one of the top two and it didnt change anything. So apparently the issue isn't one of the cold packs but it has to come from the other electical components just beyond that.

Does anyone know what this might be and how I can fix it? My friend said the thing is called a switch box he thinks. We have also thought of bypassing the portion of the switch box that isnt working and leading new wires to the cold packs for the cylnders that are working, if that makes any sense. If anyone can help me figure this out I would really appreciate it. i would have started this sooner but being in the military I haven't had much time for awhile. Thanks in advance.

Luke

 

[1nebel0]

Re: 1994 mercury tracker 40 hp. 2 cylinders not firing, help?

You need to have a digital volt meter with a peak voltage adapter...It can be the trigger, the stator or the switch box...there are tests for each one and you need the manual for the spec's. Parts are expensive so you need to get it right the first time... New switch box...$225...New trigger $100....New Stator upwards of $250...Most offten the switch box and or stator but you have to test..Very easy to do with the right equipment...Good luck.

 

[Maxz695]

Re: 1994 mercury tracker 40 hp. 2 cylinders not firing, help?

switchbox (ba will fire on 1 of 2 cylinders if it,s bad 2 of 4 cylinders if it,s bad and non at all if it,s bad. I wouldn,t think its the trigger it sends 1 single per revolution and the switchbox sends the rest being that it does run on 2 cylinders i wouldn,t think it,s the stator it appears to be doing it,s job but don,t rule it out I would do the tesing on all these parts before buying anything and get the roight part just my opinion not a fact hope this helps you

 

[lukebecker]

Re: 1994 mercury tracker 40 hp. 2 cylinders not firing, help?

ok thanks for the advice guys. I guess it may be time for me to have a professional take a look at it. i fear i have reached my usefulness on the topic. thanks again.