Can worn points cause this? Video included

[CaptnKingfisher]

1989 OMC Cobra 2.3l with Rochester 2bbl
This year:
Owner had wrong plugs, replaced according to service manual. RS12YC. Gapped at .035. One of the old plugs had a broken center electrode, not sure what would cause that
Found a broken plug wire, put on a whole new set
Ignition coil secondary circuit had 0 resistance, replaced with new coil. Replaced with new.
Compression test results 152-165 on all cylinders
Timing = 10 degrees
Dwell = 36 degrees
Point gap = 0.011 .. it's supposed to be 0.019
Spark jumps 1/2" gap on all four cylinders, however looks a little weak to me at that distance. I did not take a video of it

One other observation.. my new plug wires seem to not stay tight on the distributer housing. I can push them down about 1/16" or 1/8" so they are bottomed out and then as I run the engine they back off again the same distance. Not sure of that's enough to disturb the contact inside the rubber boots.

Everything looks clean inside the distributer, however the points are a little worn and the gap I'd a little too small

Enough talking here's the video

What do you think? Definitely a misfire? Could be caused by worn points or should I look at anything else?

 

[CaptnKingfisher]

An old plug that got destroyed. Owner had water in his tank, not sure if that would cause this

 

[alldodge]

The plug is oil fowled but the missing electrode says your running lean and preignition

Check fuel pressure and carb settings

 

[kenny nunez]

Set the dwell with a dwell meter and leave the feeler gauge in the tool box and forget about them. Be sure and get a set of points and a condenser from NAPA. Spray each spark plug wire with alcohol before plugging them in the cap.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Remember even new points should be filed

 

[CaptnKingfisher]

Remember even new points should be filed

I really appreciate all these tips. I've never replaced points before. I'm on a parts website for my engine and see I can order CDI or seirra replacements, am I better off just going to NAPA with the part numbers? Are points and condensers universal or will they need to match the part numbers that I found

 

[kenny nunez]

Which distributor do you have? It can be either Mallory or Prestolite.
Mallory points OMC# 382135
Mallory condenser OMC# 382136
Prestolite points OMC# 980893
Prestolite condenser OMC# 980894
Always set the dwell with the coil wire grounded.

 

[CaptnKingfisher]

Which distributor do you have? It can be either Mallory or Prestolite.
Mallory points OMC# 382135
Mallory condenser OMC# 382136
Prestolite points OMC# 980893
Prestolite condenser OMC# 980894
Always set the dwell with the coil wire grounded.

Mallory, thank you

 

[Lou C]

The quickest way I found of setting dwell was to hook up a remote starter switch so I don't have to keep jumping back and forth front to back.
it is a bit of a pain but if you can get decent quality points, no electronics to go bad
the vid suggest more of a surging condition than a miss.
make sure that the mechanical advance weights are not rusted up under the points plate. The Presotlites have a lube wick in the dist shaft that you can see after taking off the rotor, a few drops of oil is all it takes to keep them working well. Not sure if the Mallory has the same thing.

 

[CaptnKingfisher]

The quickest way I found of setting dwell was to hook up a remote starter switch so I don't have to keep jumping back and forth front to back.
it is a bit of a pain but if you can get decent quality points, no electronics to go bad
the vid suggest more of a surging condition than a miss.
make sure that the mechanical advance weights are not rusted up under the points plate. The Presotlites have a lube wick in the dist shaft that you can see after taking off the rotor, a few drops of oil is all it takes to keep them working well. Not sure if the Mallory has the same thing.

I'll look for the lube wick, I know the replacement points I ordered for the Mallory comes with one. I'll be sure to oil it and inspect the weights as well. I really appreciate the tips. As far as a surge, I watch the video a little differently after reading dodges post and I can see that too. Definitely gonna test fuel pressure straight away. I only work on this thing on weekends but I'll report back

 

[CaptnKingfisher]

Replaced the points and condenser, new points didn't come with a lube wick not was there one in the Mallory housing. Gapped the points but a feeler gauge but ended up adjusting it after that to get dwell correct. Did not see any rust under the points plate. Spark is much stronger now, bright blue spark jumping 1/2" gap on all cylinders. Didn't get to test it on the water yet

Also my fuel pressure tester didn't have a fitting to connect to the brass threaded part on the end of the steel fuel rail. I was frustrated by that and losing daylight so I did not test fuel pressure yet. I'm gonna try just stretching some spare fuel hose over the threads and attaching my gauge like that.

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

I'll look for the lube wick, I know the replacement points I ordered for the Mallory comes with one. I'll be sure to oil it and inspect the weights as well. I really appreciate the tips. As far as a surge, I watch the video a little differently after reading dodges post and I can see that too. Definitely gonna test fuel pressure straight away. I only work on this thing on weekends but I'll report back

Do you happen to have the part number with the included lube wick?

 

[CaptnKingfisher]

Do you happen to have the part number with the included lube wick?

Turns out the ones I ordered did not come with one, sorry can't help ya with that

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

To be honest I totally forgot that there used to be one and the kits I have since ordered didn't include it. It doesn't appear to be an individual part.
I did find one pictorially under OMC/Johnson #0382135 which I may get in hopes it truly has it which thankfully it's inexpensive.
Thus is for the Mallory distributor. I have a notch in the she like mentioned above but do not see it on any kits.

 

[CaptnKingfisher]

Thanks everyone for your responses, had the boat out today after changing the points and condenser and it ran very well once it warmed up. I had some issue getting it started at first.. with fast idle it was idling very slowly until it ran for a minute and gradually got up to speed. Once warmed up no more issue starting and stopping. Got to plane quickly and ran without missing. My dwell is still off by 3 degrees so I need to readjust dwell and then recheck timing and I hope that will fix my cold start issue but I was very happy with it's performance once it warmed up

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

Thanks everyone for your responses, had the boat out today after changing the points and condenser and it ran very well once it warmed up. I had some issue getting it started at first.. with fast idle it was idling very slowly until it ran for a minute and gradually got up to speed. Once warmed up no more issue starting and stopping. Got to plane quickly and ran without missing. My dwell is still off by 3 degrees so I need to readjust dwell and then recheck timing and I hope that will fix my cold start issue but I was very happy with it's performance once it warmed up

Glad you got her running better. I have to rebuild my carb in spring and hope to have the same luck you do