Merc 9.9 - Hit some rocks, have some ?'s

[GreshamFisher]

I bought a '08 Mercury 9.9 ProKicker last year... well this Winter while fishing the Sandy I just about destroyed a prop. Replaced the prop, but that day I coulda sworn the sound of the motor changed. I've been out on a few trips since then and it has performed fine, but I still think it sounds different. Also, last time out, while trolling, my fishfinder kept warning me of low voltage (after we had been trolling for awhile). My kicker is supposed to put off a charge so the battery doesn't run down. My batteries are also both new. Could that functionality possibly be damaged? What could I look at to try and determine what, if anything, might be wrong... or right, about the motor? I have a multimeter, but I don't know what to check to see if the motor is putting off a charge.

Thanks,

Kurt

[huntorfish?]

could be a bad resonator. Mine went bad after hitting the rocks. Might want to check it.

[dieselpwr]

I bought a '08 Mercury 9.9 ProKicker last year... well this Winter while fishing the Sandy I just about destroyed a prop. Replaced the prop, but that day I coulda sworn the sound of the motor changed. I've been out on a few trips since then and it has performed fine, but I still think it sounds different. Also, last time out, while trolling, my fishfinder kept warning me of low voltage (after we had been trolling for awhile). My kicker is supposed to put off a charge so the battery doesn't run down. My batteries are also both new. Could that functionality possibly be damaged? What could I look at to try and determine what, if anything, might be wrong... or right, about the motor? I have a multimeter, but I don't know what to check to see if the motor is putting off a charge.

Thanks,

Kurt

You might have a bent prop shaft, which in turn could not allow you engine to operate at the rpm's required to produce the full voltage and amperage required to produce a charge.

[GreshamFisher]

could be a bad resonator. Mine went bad after hitting the rocks. Might want to check it.

Do you know how I could test this?

[GreshamFisher]

You might have a bent prop shaft, which in turn could not allow you engine to operate at the rpm's required to produce the full voltage and amperage required to produce a charge.

Is there a way I could determine this?

[Bobberman]

Stevens marine will fix you up.

[jimh]

If you didn't put exactly the same size on or if you ran the chipped prop for long, then it would sound different.

[baitsauce]

could be a bad resonator. Mine went bad after hitting the rocks. Might want to check it.


I've never heard of a "resonator" and I'm pretty mechanically inclined too. I even consulted my 4-stoke outboard book, but couldn't find anything that mentioned a "resonator". But I also lead a sheltered life too. Please explain......

[baitsauce]

I bought a '08 Mercury 9.9 ProKicker last year... well this Winter while fishing the Sandy I just about destroyed a prop. Replaced the prop, but that day I coulda sworn the sound of the motor changed. I've been out on a few trips since then and it has performed fine, but I still think it sounds different. Also, last time out, while trolling, my fishfinder kept warning me of low voltage (after we had been trolling for awhile). My kicker is supposed to put off a charge so the battery doesn't run down. My batteries are also both new. Could that functionality possibly be damaged? What could I look at to try and determine what, if anything, might be wrong... or right, about the motor? I have a multimeter, but I don't know what to check to see if the motor is putting off a charge.

Thanks,

Kurt


Kurt, I have a Merc 9.9 Bigfoot and I've been meaning to respond to this sooner. In fact, right now I'm waiting on a carb kit for mine. So when that get here it's gonna get a like new carb when I get done rebuilding it. I don't understand why it wears out or goes bad after 7 years and about a bazillion trouble free hours. Can't Merc get it right? :D

On to your motor:

If I'm understanding things right you replaced the prop and now the sound is different.....well, I'd say not to worry about it unless you find water in the oil of lower unit.

The motor won't put out much of a charge to the battery unless you are going well above trolling speeds. If your sonar has a voltage option on one of your screens you can see what I mean and keep an eye on it in real time. I doubt very seriously you damaged the charging system by hitting some rocks even in the worst scerario. If your sonar is warning you of low voltage then the batteries probably weren't fully charged when you hit the water. So I think it's nothing to worry about after you recheck your connections from your leads to your batteries.

Good luck

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[GreshamFisher]

Thanks for the comments everyone... I'm probably just paranoid. I thought the sound changed that day on the water when I hit the rocks... of course that could have been because the prop was munched up and changed the sound, or maybe it was because I was listening extra hard for something to worry about.

I think I'll start by getting a trickle charger for my boat so I'm not relying on my motors to charge the batteries.

Thanks again,

Kurt

[huntorfish?]

I've never heard of a "resonator" and I'm pretty mechanically inclined too. I even consulted my 4-stoke outboard book, but couldn't find anything that mentioned a "resonator". But I also lead a sheltered life too. Please explain......


Sorry read regulator or rectifier. Can be pulled up within alternator parts listing. iboats has them if you google it it should have a parts list. It is square in shape and has leadwires stemming from it. Stevens can help you.
Sorry it took me so long to respond. Been gone.

[jimh]

I think I'll start by getting a trickle charger for my boat so I'm not relying on my motors to charge the batteries.

Good call. The alternator on at least some 9.9s was only designed to run small running lights.

[baitsauce]

I've never heard of a "resonator" and I'm pretty mechanically inclined too. I even consulted my 4-stoke outboard book, but couldn't find anything that mentioned a "resonator". But I also lead a sheltered life too. Please explain......

Sorry read regulator or rectifier. Can be pulled up within alternator parts listing. iboats has them if you google it it should have a parts list. It is square in shape and has leadwires stemming from it. Stevens can help you.
Sorry it took me so long to respond. Been gone.


That makes sense now. I have heard of both a rectifier and a regulator. Thanks.

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