dead in th water

we have a 1967 1100ss inline 6 merc and while running down the lake the battery terminal vibrated off. now the motor seems to only want to run if the key is held on. Is the ignition switch fried,or maybe the trigger?

Re: dead in th water

Grab a multimeter and check for power on the white wire on the switchbox when the key is in the 'ON' position. Power should be there when the key is 'ON' and not there when the key is 'OFF'....

Re: dead in th water

From the basic description you provided, sounds like the trigger circuit is damaged. See the attached link. On the battery CD type ignitions like you have, the battery acts as a sort of voltage regulator for the system. Without a battery connected, the stator is able to produce very high voltages (unregulated) which can damage the switchbox, trigger circuit etc.

http://www.boatpartstore.com/page18.asp

Re: dead in th water

If the trigger was hurt the motor would not run at all.

Which battery terminal, on the battery or on the ignition switch?

I suspect your problem is one set of the 'Run' contacts in the igntion switch toasted, and you are holding the key just past the 'Run' position almost to the 'Start' position and making the 'Run' connection on an unburnt spot on those contacts.

Test the ignition switch as Achris has laid out to prove the fault.

Re: dead in th water

What is the aversion to doing 5 minutes of troubleshooting? Everybody seems to want to throw parts at engines in a desperate attempt to fix them. Why not pick up the DIAGNOSTIC tools and find the problem??? A few minutes of proper troubleshooting will SAVE heaps of money, time and frustration.... If you want to speculate, go buy a lottery ticket.

Off my soapbox now....

Chris.......

Re: dead in th water

CharlieB said:

Test the ignition switch as Achris has laid out to prove the fault.

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Re: dead in th water

CharlieB said:

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Click to expand...

The comment was not directed at you Charlie... It is a general comment because I constantly see things like, "that's always xxx part"... I'm more into finding what's broken, not just throwing parts at something until the problem disappears...

Chris......

Re: dead in th water

running down the lake the battery terminal vibrated off

Click to expand...

One of the biggest deaths of triggers..... check voltage into switchbox, if ok its trigger time. Here is link to test the trigger /switchbox. Notice that they state if you only have spark while cranking it a voltage problem or bad trigger.
http://www.cdielectronics.com/InstallSheet/114-2986.pd

Re: dead in th water

achris said:

The comment was not directed at you Charlie... It is a general comment because I constantly see things like, "that's always xxx part"... I'm more into finding what's broken, not just throwing parts at something until the problem disappears...

Chris......

Click to expand...

I'm presuming this was directed at me but if you read my post, I never suggested that the OP replace anything. I mearly suggested what is a common failure based on the information he provided. I then included a link to basic test procedures so he could further diagnos the problem. Achris, I wasn't devaluing what you suggested, just offering alternative information.

Re: dead in th water

My comment was not directed at anyone in particular, just a general comment about speculating rather than troubleshooting. It's not just here, it's everywhere. I work in an environment of high technology, and the 'technicians' all want to just put more parts in until it's fixed. It's alright for them, they're not paying for the parts, or the time, but I see that (and just about everything I look at in this world) as a huge waste of resources that would be better invested in something more useful.... It's really frustrating when I can see that 5 minutes spent with a diagnostic tool would locate and solve the problem without the need to resort to a 'shotgun' approach.

As I said before , Off my soapbox now, again....

Chris......

Re: dead in th water

finally had some time to run some tests. bad trigger.order a new one #134-3736 only to find out my motor has a two piece rotor shaft and distrubuter cap held on by 4 screws which doesnt match new part. do you think i can order a one piece shaft and "round cap" or do i send it back and find a different part?