grounded alternator hot post
#1
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 419
Likes: 14
From: Lake Winnipesaukee, NH
I can mess up anything.
I feel pretty stupid. I know enough to power down the engine while working on it and I still messed up. I touched the main post on my alternator while assembling my power steering and now I have no spark. This was done while the key was off.
There's no spark now, I went as far as disconnecting my shift interrupt and then checked the output circuit. It has battery voltage.
But there's no fire at the plugs, and there was before this muck up.
I have the manual and I was going to next test the excitation circuit, and then the sensing circuit.
I am not much of an electrician, But with the good weather we expect I want to dunk the boat.
After reading the electrical diagram it appears that the only pieces in the line of fire are these.
I happen to have a new regulator/brush assembly. And I bought a new rectifier bridge this week in case I need it.
What else do I check, anything?
I feel pretty stupid. I know enough to power down the engine while working on it and I still messed up. I touched the main post on my alternator while assembling my power steering and now I have no spark. This was done while the key was off.
There's no spark now, I went as far as disconnecting my shift interrupt and then checked the output circuit. It has battery voltage.
But there's no fire at the plugs, and there was before this muck up.
I have the manual and I was going to next test the excitation circuit, and then the sensing circuit.
I am not much of an electrician, But with the good weather we expect I want to dunk the boat.
After reading the electrical diagram it appears that the only pieces in the line of fire are these.
I happen to have a new regulator/brush assembly. And I bought a new rectifier bridge this week in case I need it.
What else do I check, anything?
Last edited by NHGuy; 06-21-2019 at 08:03 PM.
#2
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 4,197
Likes: 500
From: KY
On the starter post there is a square item which also has (in most cases) a Red/Purple wire which goes to the 50 amp breaker and a Orange wire which goes to the alternator. The square item is a 90 amp fuse which has probably been blown. If you have battery volts on the starter post and none on the 50 amp breaker or small post on square fuse, then the fuse was blown. The square thing comes apart and the fuse is inside
https://leadersrpmshop.com/mercury-marine-mercruiser-new-oem-fuse-90-amp-88-8m6001960/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwgLLoBRDyARIsACRAZe5iK2vaqT0EeFOXikp H4TFk-JMbhTSAHW_efGxnIuO4HUSZMdSzIBAaAiPhEALw_wcB
https://www.amazon.com/Mercury-Quicksilver-Fuse-Assy-90-Amp/dp/B0038ZYPSW/ref=asc_df_B0038ZYPSW/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312684231807&hvpos=1o1&hvne tw=g&hvrand=17503518789781838511&hvpone=&hvptwo=&h vqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9014831 &hvtargid=pla-568793613346&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=60983009663&h vpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=312684231807&hvpos=1o1&hvnet w=g&hvrand=17503518789781838511&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvd vcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9014831&hvtargid=pla-568793613346
https://leadersrpmshop.com/mercury-marine-mercruiser-new-oem-fuse-90-amp-88-8m6001960/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwgLLoBRDyARIsACRAZe5iK2vaqT0EeFOXikp H4TFk-JMbhTSAHW_efGxnIuO4HUSZMdSzIBAaAiPhEALw_wcB
https://www.amazon.com/Mercury-Quicksilver-Fuse-Assy-90-Amp/dp/B0038ZYPSW/ref=asc_df_B0038ZYPSW/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312684231807&hvpos=1o1&hvne tw=g&hvrand=17503518789781838511&hvpone=&hvptwo=&h vqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9014831 &hvtargid=pla-568793613346&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=60983009663&h vpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=312684231807&hvpos=1o1&hvnet w=g&hvrand=17503518789781838511&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvd vcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9014831&hvtargid=pla-568793613346
#6
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 419
Likes: 14
From: Lake Winnipesaukee, NH
FINAL SOLUTION
It turns out that my engine does not have the 90A fuse on the starter post.
So.as is typical the coil tested bad at first. But we all know coils rarely fail so I retested with the correct ohm scale and unplugged from engine harness - the coil was actually good.
I have a DUI distributor, which is just a modernized clone of the GM HEI from the 70's. I called Davis Ignition and he thought it would be the module. It turns out it was.
I'm back in business.
I hope if someone else does the same dumb thing I did they can learn from my mistake.
It turns out that my engine does not have the 90A fuse on the starter post.
So.as is typical the coil tested bad at first. But we all know coils rarely fail so I retested with the correct ohm scale and unplugged from engine harness - the coil was actually good.
I have a DUI distributor, which is just a modernized clone of the GM HEI from the 70's. I called Davis Ignition and he thought it would be the module. It turns out it was.
I'm back in business.
I hope if someone else does the same dumb thing I did they can learn from my mistake.
Last edited by NHGuy; 07-01-2019 at 04:59 PM.
#8
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 4,189
Likes: 55
From: Cape coral, FL



