1968 mercury 500 no spark

[luckys pinstriping]

Ok installed new starter and she cranks great. No i do not have any spark. Where do i begin?
serial number on the motor is 2408947

Thanks Nick

 

[Tassie 1]

A good manual would help sort out that problem.
but the distributor and timing would be a good place to look

 

[The Force power]

Check the wiring & it's condition, one break in one wire & she will not fire

 

[luckys pinstriping]

Have gone thru all wiring and repaired if necessary.

Is here a way to test the switch box?
Can i test the ignition coil?

Thank you Nick

 

[The Force power]

Yes, you can; here a link to helpful info

http://www.boatinfo.no/lib/mercury/m...0-115.html/250

the website is a bit confusing at first as it covers multiple motor/years per topic, so read carefully

 

[luckys pinstriping]

Thank you for the reply but the link doesn't work i receive a message page not found?

 

[The Force power]

I may have not put in the right address I'll resend tonight

 

[The Force power]

deleted

 

[The Force power]

http://boatinfo.no/lib/mercury/manuals/mercury_1965-1989_40-115.html#/0

sorry this is the one

 

[merc850]

If you have Tbolt with a Lightning Energizer (I am sure you do) here's an overview of its design and function.

 

[The Force power]

if you have tbolt with a lightning energizer (i am sure you do) here's an overview of its design and function.

nice

 

[luckys pinstriping]

Merc850 thank you

Finally something that looks familiar to what i have. At this point i believe i have a type II ignition system. If i understand correctly this system does not points and condensers. I kept reading about points and thinking i don't have nor do i see points anywhere in the system.

I also do not see a mercury switch or a tilt sensor which i have read about being an issue. One last thing when i looked at the manual the was posted on here i do not have a ground wire from my my magneto to the engine. Would this make a difference?

I guess this should narrow it down to the ignition coil or the switch box. Of course both expensive parts.

Hey thank you guys again for the help i will be in the garage tonight testing the low speed and high speed coils

Thanks Nick

 

[merc850]

No mercury switch. Yes you need the ground wire It could be a possible reason; I would remove the ignition driver by removing the 4 bolts that hold it and check the cap and rotor inside, the shaft has a blanked spline that makes it easy to reassemble it. There are no points and it will work without a battery.

 

[luckys pinstriping]

Merc500
Removed the cap and inspected everything. all four poles and the rotor needed a good cleaning. I did notice that the rotor tip seems to be higher on one side than the other. Cleaned and reassembled but still no spark.

I tested the high and low speed coils and everything checks out.

Can i test the coil and switch box?

Thanks Nick