Electronic ignition conversion

[quick_claude]

This is my first post to this site but I have been a long time reader. My boat has an I/O 1978 120hp MerCrusier (153cc). I ordered an electronic ignition conversion kit with primary coil and distributor. THe new coil has two wires to connect (a purple wire to power and a grey wire to the tach). My old conventional coil has both a power wire AND a resistor wire going to the positive side. The instruction kit said to bypass the resistor wire. My first question is "can I just cut and cap off the resistor wire?" What is the other end of that resistor wire connected to? <br /><br />Also, there were two wires on the negative side of the old coil. One went to a ground on the bell housing. I assume the other was the tach wire. Does both of these wires ground and tach) connect to the grey wire on new coil?<br /><br />All advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

[akriverrat]

Re: Electronic ignition conversion

what make is the new distributor? if it is a voyager marine (gm hei without coil in cap) i have done that and have instructions. 1)yes 2)the run terminal of ignition switch. 3)with MINE, ground would not be used... where does your shift interrupt switch lead go? my paperwork shows it off the coil neg. it also shows tach lead off neg side of coil along with distributor primary lead? plus side of coil has start and run wires.

 

[quick_claude]

Re: Electronic ignition conversion

UGH!!! Can somebody pls help me? There was two wires (power and resistor) going to the plus side of my old conventional coil. A volt meter confirmed that the power wire had system voltage w/ key on. So I cut and capped the resistor wire (per kit instructions) and hooked the power wire from the new coil to the power wire supply from engine harness. Then I hooked up the new coil tach wire to the tach wire that was on the neg side of the old coil. I also connected the new coil tach wire to another wire (ground? or shift interupt?) that was coming from the bell housing to the neg side of the old coil. BUT NOW I don't have any system voltage coming from the wiring harness to the new coil!!!!! WHY NOT??? I had it before. Did I screw something up by capping the resistor wire? Did I scew something up by connecting the ground wire to the bell housing to the neg side of new coil?....AND where does the shift interupt play into all of this???? By the way.. All fuses are o.k. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!!!!!!<br />THANKS<br /><br />My new electronic coil is not in the top of the distributor cap (it is seperate). I was getting voltage from the power wire to the from the cut and put a wire nut on the resistor wire and hooked up the

 

[Trent]

Re: Electronic ignition conversion

First off...THe resistance wire you cut is a wire that reduces voltage so it does not burn up the points. Since you removed the points they want you to apply FULL voltage to the ign. system. Check to make sure you have connected your new power wire to 12 volts (switched power). The shift interrupter switch is really a ground. It grounds out the system to kill the engine. Its one of the two gray wires on the - side of the coil. (The other gray goes to the tach.) If it still does not work remove both gray wires and retry.

 

[PT]

Re: Electronic ignition conversion

How much do these electronic ignition cost, ruff estimate & what is the advantage of it. I have points & never had a problem, not saying they want, other than the points maybe getting corrided what else can go wrong with them? thxs

 

[quick_claude]

Re: Electronic ignition conversion

PT....<br />Only had this boat 2 years ('79 16' Chapparral BR}. She's old (for a boat) but I enjoy spending time on the water with her. Never had trouble w/points; but didn't want to ever have to change and set them out on the water. Plus wanted to get rid of old style distributor w/ springs.<br />Not TOO expensive, plus helps for resell(I would think). <br />NOW...if I could just get it running....hmmmmm.

 

[akriverrat]

Re: Electronic ignition conversion

were there instructions with this setup? take a look at this site and tell me if this looks like what you have. .http://www.marinemechanic.com/volvo/sb-34-2-5.htm

 

[akriverrat]

Re: Electronic ignition conversion

http://www.marinemechanic.com/site/PAGE257.htm

 

[quick_claude]

Re: Electronic ignition conversion

akriverrat.....<br />thanks for the help. Actually the 2nd diagram looks like my setup. That diagram shows a power wire that goes from the distributor (the same plug that has the jumper wire for setting initial timing)to the shift interupt. My instructions just said that should go to a power source, not necessarily the shift interupt. Does that have to be connected to the shift interupt?.mine is not. Is that why I am not getting power to my coil in an ignition switch on position? Again...thanks for your advice.

 

[JasonB]

Re: Electronic ignition conversion

PT, you can buy a Pertronix basic ignition module for ~$70. I used the next one up at $99 and one of theit 40,000 volt coils. Well pleased with the improvement for $150 and never have to change points again. I bought mine at www.vintageperformance.com, but some of the retailers here may carry them.