stator question, 1973 merc 850

[Strahm]

I took my cabrs out to rebuild and while doing so i noticed the wires going to the stator (right under the flywheel) are completely rotted, as is the plastic covering is gone or crumbling, and the copper is green and crumbling.

the engine has been running fine aside from a little problem at idle (one of the carbs was loose from the engine block which probably caused this) so if i dont fix these wires and it runs like it used to ill be more than happy.

here is what i want to know, what exactly do these two wires going under the flywheel do?
I really doubt they were supplying power to whatever they are going to so do i really need to replace them? to replace them i would have to take the flywheel off, and even then i dont think they will be an easy fix as they are rotted all the way into the what i believe is the stator.
i can live with my starting battery not getting charged if thats all this will do, but if it hurts the engine i would like to know so i can fix it.

the engine is a 1974 850
ser nmb 4234874

 

[Chris1956]

Re: stator question, 1973 merc 850

Those two stator wires serve to charge the battery, nothing more.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: stator question, 1973 merc 850

The stator may be removed by removing the 8 5/16" bolts that ring the large flywheel nut. Set the motor to TDC before you remove them, so you won't mess up the timing marks.....

 

[Strahm]

Re: stator question, 1973 merc 850

thats good news for me.
I can live with not charging a battery, as i have an onboard charger to do so. and im never on the lake long enough to worry about the starting battery.

i guess ill just disconect these wires, as they seem to be a fire hazard as they are now.

hopefully ill get another opinion that these two wires are in fact for charging the battery only.

 

[merc850]

Re: stator question, 1973 merc 850

Yes they only charge the battery so if you can't repair it by adding new wires, remove the stator to prevent possible fire. I would mark the flywheel across the hub and flexplate for sure reassembly, the bolts should be Loctited and torked to 20' lbs.

 

[HAS]

Re: stator question, 1973 merc 850

If your stator test ok the wires can be replaced without to much trouble. I also have a 850 , after removing the stator I cut the rubber
around the wires in the round part the wires come out of, what I had left was two bare wires 1/2 inch long, I cleaned them and put on a
little solder paste. I cut the insulation off two crimp connectors and crimped them on new wire, I put one connector on one wire coming out
of the stator and soldered the three together and put on shrink tube. After I did the the same with the other wire, I filled the round part
with epoxy. When put back on and tested it was o.3 ohm on the wires and infinty on the wires to ground. I t will some time before I
can run this engine and I`ll find out then if the stator is ok.............GOOD LUCK...................HAS

 

[Strahm]

Re: stator question, 1973 merc 850

Thanks for the information.
for now i will not fix the stator as it seems the further i "dig" into this old motor the more things i have to repair. it started as just the carbs, now im redoing all the old wiring, i think ill just leave the stator.

Is there anywhere to buy a new wire harness for less than a hundred dollars? all it is is a plug with 8 wires that are less than a foot long each it should not cost 150 ish dollars. guess thats a boat for you though. right now i am trying to heat shrink the best part of the remaining wires, and then splice in some new wire. but sooner or later the old wire will snap as they are very corroded.

 

[sutor623]

Re: stator question, 1973 merc 850

Thanks for the information.
for now i will not fix the stator as it seems the further i "dig" into this old motor the more things i have to repair. it started as just the carbs, now im redoing all the old wiring, i think ill just leave the stator.

Is there anywhere to buy a new wire harness for less than a hundred dollars? all it is is a plug with 8 wires that are less than a foot long each it should not cost 150 ish dollars. guess thats a boat for you though. right now i am trying to heat shrink the best part of the remaining wires, and then splice in some new wire. but sooner or later the old wire will snap as they are very corroded.

Dude you are lucky that they still even make a wire harness that old. What I do is cut back the wire to where the corrosion stops and then crimp in some fresh new wire. Works like a charm. My '67 60 needed most all of the wires re-done like this and she starts up and runs way easier than in the past.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: stator question, 1973 merc 850

These old motors are famous for that.
They sell liquid electric tape.I like green!!!
Try to remove what you can(old plastic) and then paint them.J

 

[Strahm]

Re: stator question, 1973 merc 850

well the all the wires are so corroded that there really isnt a good place to crimp a new section of wire on, but im going to try it.
I put heat shrink over the last portion of the old wire to hold it all together, then spliced in new wire from there.

as for the stator im just going to clip the wires and cover them in electrical tape to be sure there is no fire hazzard.