Ignition maintenance suggestions?

[Fiat4Fun]

Finally got the silly rotor off my distributor shaft on my 1986 260HP V* Mercruiser with a slide hammer.... crazy tight.

Is there any maintenance that should be done to the electronic contact area? It looks like a big ball of copper??
Also, was going to change the spark plugs. What plugs are Quicksilver providing? I think I have always use the NGK BR6FS.
Any other suggestions to cleaning contacts on the coil or distributor? I don't think those have been ever touched, and it has over 750 hours on it.
Any advice is greatly appreciated, as I want to get the new cap and rotor on.
Thanks in advance
Bob

 

[Bondo]

Finally got the silly rotor off my distributor shaft on my 1986 260HP V* Mercruiser with a slide hammer.... crazy tight.

Ayuh,..... For some reason, Merc glues the damn things on,....

I grip the shaft area with channel locks, 'n Bust off the ole one,.....

I dab form-a-gasket #3 on the shaft, just so's it don't rust, but I don't loc-tite 'em on,....

 

[alldodge]

I slide hammer puller, sure hope it didn't damage something.

Use the NGK or AC MR43T, Champion RV8C or Autolite 144 according to manual 9, no QC plugs. 8 BTDC

What do you mean by a big ball of copper?

 

[Fiat4Fun]

thanks for the response. might use a drop of gasket seater when I put it back on. I think I saw somewhere that they glued the on so they would not drift upward at high speeds. I used a light duty two pound slide hammer, and it all looks alright.

I will get a picture of the sensor, and see if the "Copper ball" makes sense. Might order a replacement just to have it.

Thanks
Bob

 

[achris]

The Thunderbolt IV ignition system is a maintenance free system, one of its delights. My maintenance routine is to replace cap and rotor every 1000 hours, and spark plugs every 100 to 150 hours. Other than that, make sure wires and connections are damage free and in good condition, check the timing and your done. One other thing I do is from day one, replace the horrid wire spark leads with silicone.... Do that and it should be trouble-free for many years.

Chris.....

 

[Fiat4Fun]

Thanks for the responses. Sounds like from achris response, the Thunderbolt system is pretty reliable. 1000 hours for cap & rotor? Glad to hear the sensors last that long! Any idea how long the sensor box and the sensor in the distributor last? I will get a picture of my distributor sensor, as the copper ball might actually be a brass ball from the distributer cap ;-) Just does not look like a clean sensor. I have no issues with the boat running over the last couple of years.

 

[alldodge]

I think that's one to many zero's, and achris boats in salt water

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... My T-Bolt IV is nearin' 2,000 hours,....

I changed the cap, 'n rotor once along time ago, but it didn't really need it,....

I'm probably on my 3rd or 4th set of spark plugs, 'n they didn't need changin' either,.....

The used set in my toolbox still have nice sharp edges, 'n fire just fine,.....

Boaters are anal 'bout some things,....

'ell,.... Millions of perfectly good ignition coils are thrown away every year,..... because it's Easy, 'n simple to change,....

 

[Fiat4Fun]

Here are the pictures of the current sensor. Looks like the replacements have leads on them. I did find a new "old" version with the studs, so I got that coming just in case. I also ordered factory cap and rotor, instead of the Sierra or GLC replacements.
Any thoughts on these pictures?

 

[NHGuy]

I use the OE cap & rotor too. And I feel pretty good that I have been using stainless core silicone wires on my boats too. Just didn't say so cause I didn't want to OE only platoon getting at me!

 

[achris]

... the Thunderbolt system is pretty reliable. 1000 hours for cap & rotor? Glad to hear the sensors last that long! Any idea how long the sensor box and the sensor in the distributor last?....

Sensor in my old engine still going at 22 years (just over 2,000 hours). As is the module. They are ZERO maintenance items. Make sure your batteries are good and all the wiring in tip top condition so you don't get any nasty noise on the supply rail (and that also means keeping non-engine stuff off the engine circuits!), keep 'em clean and dry, nothing bad going to happen.

I think that's one to many zero's, and achris boats in salt water

Nope, right number of zeros. One thousand hours. In fact the only things I've done to that engine, apart from the usual maintenance, are the following (I also maintain it for the guy who bought it from me).

Carb pull and clean at about 12 years old.
Replaced a coil at about 9 years old (this one really was faulty. The bottom got a small corrosion hole and the oil leaked out)
One uni bellows at about 6 years old. Still running the original gimbal bearing, unis and shift cable.
At about 10 years I pulled the engine and hot-dip galvanised the oil pan as it was getting a bit rusty.

Chris........

 

[Fiat4Fun]

Thanks , sounds like the stock system is pretty reliable, If this boat gets to 2000 hours, I will be impressed or dead
Any ideas on how I should clean the contacts in the distributor? Compressed air or should I use an electronic cleaner?
You can see from the pictures that it looks to have some stuff on it......
Thanks again,

 

[achris]

...Any ideas on how I should clean the contacts in the distributor? Compressed air or should I use an electronic cleaner?...

Very lightly rub them with a bit of fine emery. Then compressed air to gently blow out any residue.

Chris........