502 Electrical Problem
 

I was finishing up on my sea strainer today. When I got ready to close the hatch everything was dead no power to anything. I checked both batteries and checked the battery switch still nothing. Does anyone know how many fuses are in the engine compartment and where they are? I looked in the Mercury book and it shows a reset switch and a fuse on the starter solenoid. It was getting to late to check anyhting else, so I took the bolts out of the hatch actuators and let it down that way. I could have arced off of the alternator when I was working on the sea strainer. Any help would be aprreciated.

Batteries are full charge. Nothing works.

What about the breakers on top infront of the distributor and under the flame arrestor

Mine has a silonoid under the Flame arrestor above the valve cover, may have something to do with the captains call

It was the 90 amp fuse on the starter. After removing everything on the starboard side, it was a piece of cake. Thanks guys for the responses.

I had the same problem in my 36 Outlaw (twin 502's)

It turned out to be a loose terminal on the starter motor.

It really screwed everything up. The boat was completely dead.

Good Luck

I need to make sure this never happens on the water, because everything is dead.

I like circuit breakers for that very reason. Circuit breakers do fail also but can usually be reset.

Do you know if you did acually shorted someting as you stated earlier. If that was it you should be fine now. Fuses are for short circuit protection so it worked perfectly and nothing else was probably damaged.

Yeah I touched the back post of the alternator with one of the braided hoses. I fixed that problem though I cut a piece of rubber hose and wrapped it around that location. Should not ever have that problem again, and I will also make sure the battery switch is turned off next time.