Commander 302 Won't Fire

Cgoshia

Cadet
Joined
Jul 3, 2012
Messages
24
I was out on the boat last weekend and just go up to the boat today, and it won't start. I changed out the ignition coil, ballast resistor and I know for fact that these were wired up correctly because the engine fired since but I really haven't had it running since those part were swapped, I tried hitting the starter with a hammer and I am still not getting it to run. I can hear
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: Commander 302 Won't Fire

Do you have spark?
If not, did you replace the points and condenser? That's the cause of no spark about 99% of the time.
 

Cgoshia

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Joined
Jul 3, 2012
Messages
24
Re: Commander 302 Won't Fire

Go a new starter and put a new solenoid on there and the boat would crank when I'd 'hot wire' it but not at the turn of a key. Any ideas?
 

Cgoshia

Cadet
Joined
Jul 3, 2012
Messages
24
Re: Commander 302 Won't Fire

Thank you Don for that post it helped me diagnose all my issues this weekend. I have new problem though not covered in that thread. I ran for about an hour this weekend and lost all power to the motor. I dropped anchor to see if a wire had come loose or something. Everything looked fine till I looked at the ballast resistor and the thing cracked in half. It's a brand new one and I'm not sure if it's defective or if there may be a bigger issue.
 
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