Repeating Stator Failures

[rpedneau]

1992 Mercury 25 HP Long Shaft Tiller<br />Model: 1025312MD<br />Serial #: 0D140776<br /><br />Are there any known problems with this type of engine with "Stator" failures ????<br /><br />I purchased the engine in late 2003. The first time out with it, the "Stator" failed. The dealership replaced it free of charge, and the engine worked fine for the next few trips, but then had another "Stator" failure. Once again the dealership replaced the failed "Stator" free of charge, and the engine did work the next (and last) time I took it out in the 2003 season.<br /><br />I took the boat out for the first time in the 2004 season a few weeks ago, and the "Stator" failed again. The dealership has once again replaced the "Stator" free of charge, and the engine is running again.<br /><br />I cannot believe that I have had the unfortunate luck of having a "Stator" fail this many times. It is my opinion that there must be a "Root Cause" for the "Stator" failures other than the "Stator" itself. The dealership just keeps telling me it is a "Stator" failure, and there is nothing else wrong with the engine.<br /><br />Can you PLEASE shed some light on this situation for me, and/or suggest what on this engine might contribute to my constant "Stator" failures.<br /><br />Thank you in advance for your response.<br /><br />Russ.

 

[KCLOST]

Re: Repeating Stator Failures

Is this an electric start motor?<br /><br />If so, the only thing I can think of (and this is just a possibility), is a charging problem in the way you charge your battery...<br /><br />Are you charging the battery while the motor leads are hooked up to it?

 

[rpedneau]

Re: Repeating Stator Failures

This is a Manual Start (Rope Pull) engine. No outside electrical connections involved.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Repeating Stator Failures

merc wont admit it but they have had stator issues for years on all their motors. I have seen some fail while I was prepping them<br /> thats why I like jap motors. the electronics are just so much superior. but next time try to find what winding is failing and is the replacement stators new or used. Rapair makes some good replacemnt merc stators.

 

[ronmold]

Re: Repeating Stator Failures

Get a CDI stator from: <br /><br /> http://www.seilermarine.com/rapair/mercury.htm <br /><br />These are know as the "red" stators because you can see the red copper windings. CDI doesn't encapsulate their stator windings in epoxy like Merc does which allows them to run cooler with more air flow. I know this will cost you but it should fix the problem.

 

[rpedneau]

Re: Repeating Stator Failures

Thanks, I will look into getting a better quality Stator the next time it fails. Too bad Mercury won't come clean on this !!

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Repeating Stator Failures

Rapair takes failed Merc stators, wire-wheels the rough edges on the stamped steel laminations, and rewinds the spools. The problem with the Merc product is that they didn't take this incredibly simple step to prevent the thousands of failures each year that these stators seemed to suffer. UNBELIEVABLE! I agree about the plastic holding the heat in. Merc chose to encapsulate them to keep corrosion out. Sort of a give-and-take situation. They felt corrosion protection was more important.<br /><br />But frankly I don't think you've suffered that many bad stators in such a short period of time. I think your mechanic is barking up the wrong tree. If you're that unlucky (and I suppose it's possible), don't go out buying any lottery tickets. Then again, by posting your problem here for the experts, your luck may have just changed. Good luck.

 

[stan_deezy]

Re: Repeating Stator Failures

Oh Shinola!!! I was just browsing the board (waiting for the beach volleyball at the Olympics to come back on telly as you do) and noticed the phrase "you don't charge the battery with the engine leads connected?"<br />Are you guys saying that this is a no-no?<br />DOH! That would explain why once a week I have to recharge the battery; have I screwed up my stators?<br />Please say its not and its because I'm using a cheap automotive battery!!<br />cheers

 

[ronmold]

Re: Repeating Stator Failures

Charging while connected wouldn't hurt the stator.

 

[KCLOST]

Re: Repeating Stator Failures

I should have said, Are you connecting the battery charger to the battery (with the motor leads connected) when the charger is turned on....<br /><br />That could cause electrical problems...

 

[stan_deezy]

Re: Repeating Stator Failures

Thanks guys you had me seriously worried for a minute; my doctor says I should be out of intensive care in a week or two!! <br /><br />cheers and thanks for some great tips,<br /><br />Bro

 

[Steve Loeffler]

Re: Repeating Stator Failures

KCLOST: <br /><br />Have I got this right?: <br /><br />Do not energize the charger until AFTER the charger leads are connected to your battery (with motor leads connected), because the high no-load transient voltage/current from the charger can damage the motor's electrical system when connecting ENERGIZED charger leads to your battery.

 

[KCLOST]

Re: Repeating Stator Failures

Steve, that's an excellent description.... All chargers are different and depending on the conditons of the charger, and the electrical safety features (usually pretty low from the positive lead of the battery) on most motors, it is a bad thing to connect "live" leads to a battery that is wired to a motor....<br /><br />I'm mostly aware of this, "possibly" causing a failure of a switchbox/rectifier/VR more than anything.... It's rare but it can happen on certain set-ups...<br /><br />I just wanted to ask Russ the question, because it seams odd that he would have multiple failurs (even though its a stator) on a fairly new motor....<br /><br />We are refering to this in regards to charging the starter battery only obviously...

 

[ronmold]

Re: Repeating Stator Failures

Can't kill the switchbox - it's not even connected to the 12v charging system. But yes you could damage the reg.