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  1. C

    Mercruiser 170 - Spark at distributor, not plugs

    I would say my spark looks like that--just not as constant as the motor is trying to start, obviously. But I'll take a look at gap and dwell. Thank you.
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    Mercruiser 170 - Spark at distributor, not plugs

    Got it--thanks. I have a new rotor and cap, so I assume it's good. There's no button in my rotor--just a solid brass ring with a little black piece in the middle.
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    Mercruiser 170 - Spark at distributor, not plugs

    The way I understand it, everything happening inside the distributor (including at the points, where I would set the dwell) is to get a good spark coming out of the coil when the magnetic field collapses. I have that good spark. I just don't have any spark coming out of the spark plug wires. Am...
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    Mercruiser 170 - Spark at distributor, not plugs

    Just to respond to earlier messages, too: I do have good spark coming out of the ignition coil. I just don't have the spark at the plugs. I gapped the points with a business card, if I'm being honest, because I don't have feeler gauges. But again, I can see spark between the points, and I'm...
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    Mercruiser 170 - Spark at distributor, not plugs

    Thank you. To be sure I had enough voltage at the + on the coil, I ran a jumper wire straight from the + on the battery to the + on the coil. So it should have had 12v. Still wouldn’t spark at the plugs. I am using all NAPA parts. I have messed with the timing a bit, in previous diagnostic stuff...
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    Mercruiser 170 - Spark at distributor, not plugs

    Thank you. What would be causing that kind of issue? Both the rotor and the distributor cap are new. This distributor cap doesn’t have a spring loaded contact inside the cap. It’s just a solid brass little ring with a black plastic dot in the middle.
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    Mercruiser 170 - Spark at distributor, not plugs

    Hey, all— I’ve seen some great threads here, so figured I would try my luck. I have a 1986 Mercruiser 170 with the original ignition system (no alternator). It wouldn’t start after the winter (and bilge flooded because I forgot to take out the plug—d’oh). The starter and battery were clearly...
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