New to Me Boat - Need Help

[achris]

Re: New to Me Boat - Need Help

Would installing the Pertronix II and the matching FlameThrower coil work to resolve the issue of the points not opening, possibly due to the worn cam in the distributor? Thanks again.

If the points aren't opening, and you have proved that is the only reason for no spark, then putting the Pertronix system in will solve the problem. With the Pertronix the cam is not used.

 

[tsnipes]

Re: New to Me Boat - Need Help

Thanks again, Chris. All of your assistance is greatly appreciated. I don't see what else the problem could be. If you look at the pics above, you can see how the cam in the distributor looks rounded more on some corners than the others. I don't see any way to move the points closer to the cam to make them open and currently they are not opening on the highest point of the cam.

I will order the Pertronix unit and see if that solves the problem. I guess I should also look for a new distributor or buy a second Pertronix unit as a back up in the event it fails while on the water. I have seen other posts in which members prefer the points because they are cheaper and troubleshooting can be done on the water. I guess if I have basically a complete second ignition system on the boat, along with a basic tool kit, I would be able to get her going again should something happen.

 

[achris]

Re: New to Me Boat - Need Help

Understand where you're coming from (as a mechanic I'd like to have an entire engine in my spares kit :facepalm:, and my laptop with the diagnostic software on it...). I've learned to restrict it to a few fuses and light globes, a set of spark plugs, a serpentine belt, a prop and hub/nut kit, some engine, drive and power steering/trim fluids and the tools to do those.. I also have a $100 note tucked away to pay the rescue service if anything else goes wrong and I need a tow home.

Most electronics these days are pretty reliable. The only problem with swapping an entire system out (be it a new module or back to the old points) is that you will MUST re-time the engine. If you don't, the timing could be far enough out to seriously damage the engine, even on a short trip home....

Chris..........

 

[tsnipes]

Re: New to Me Boat - Need Help

Great, so I need to add a timing light to my list of "Keep Aboards".

Lol, just kidding. Hope to never be in that position, but I guess you never know.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: New to Me Boat - Need Help

now that I can see the lobes, there not there anymore, you need a new one or a conversion to electronic

 

[rolmops]

Re: New to Me Boat - Need Help

Have a care with changing to electronic. You must use a feed wire that has full 12 volt. With the points setup there often is a resistor in the wire that feeds the coil. It brings the voltage down to 10.6 volts. Electronic ignition must have the full 12 volts or it will go bad really fast. So if you have that resistor ,remove it.

 

[tsnipes]

Re: New to Me Boat - Need Help

Have a care with changing to electronic. You must use a feed wire that has full 12 volt. With the points setup there often is a resistor in the wire that feeds the coil. It brings the voltage down to 10.6 volts. Electronic ignition must have the full 12 volts or it will go bad really fast. So if you have that resistor ,remove it.

Thanks, Rolmops. I do have the resistor wire, so I know I would have to remove it when going electronic. There is a second wire from the starter to the + terminal of the coil that, I believe, sends 12 volts when the key is in the "run" position, but I will need to verify. If this is the case, would this be sufficient? I have read in some other "electronic conversion" posts that others have tapped into another wire, usually from the choke.

 

[Bondo]

Re: New to Me Boat - Need Help

Thanks, Rolmops. I do have the resistor wire, so I know I would have to remove it when going electronic. There is a second wire from the starter to the + terminal of the coil that, I believe, sends 12 volts when the key is in the "run" position, but I will need to verify. If this is the case, would this be sufficient? I have read in some other "electronic conversion" posts that others have tapped into another wire, usually from the choke.

Ayuh,... That wire supplies 12v, Only when the starter is engaged,... Not when runnin',....

 

[tsnipes]

Re: New to Me Boat - Need Help

now that I can see the lobes, there not there anymore, you need a new one or a conversion to electronic

Thanks, Bt Doctur. I guess a picture is worth a thousand words. I guess this is what the p/o's mechanic was referring to when he told him that something was worn down in the distributor and he needed a new one.

Funny thing is, the p/o had already replaced everything else in the ignition system trying to fix it but he told me that he didn't have the $300 or so to replace the distributor. However, he was able to buy a brand new 21' Proline CC. So, I was able to get this boat for $400 which, coincidentally, would be just about enough for him to fill up the 90 gallon tank on his new boat and he wanted to go fishing that weekend. Kids.

Oh well, the trailer is a Magic Tilt Drive-on that has new tires/rims, bearings, rollers, bunks, lights and an electric winch so I figured it was worth the $400, but it turns out the boat is in decent shape and all the lights on it work, as does the bilge pump and blower motor. Tilt/trim works and the motor is pretty clean. He said he had it in the water in April.

Thanks again for all your help. I will be ordering the electronic kit today.

 

[tsnipes]

Re: New to Me Boat - Need Help

Ayuh,... That wire supplies 12v, Only when the starter is engaged,... Not when runnin',....

Thanks, Bond-o. I will find a 12v source that supplies voltage when the key is in the "run" position. Would I also leave the wire from the starter connected?

 

[tsnipes]

Re: New to Me Boat - Need Help

Ok, looked on Ebay and found a Pertronix II kit, but the posting is unclear which applications it will fit. I looked on here and found two kits, the Sierra 18-5297 and the Mallory 9-26900 that should work for my application. However, there is no coil included in the package. Should I order a coil to work with this system or should I use the current, brand new coil that I have (external resistor with the resistor wire).

I would like to order the Pertronix II that I saw on Ebay because it has the matching FlameThrower coil included, which should make the install pretty straightforward.

Or, if I order from this site, which coil, if any, would I need to order?

 

[achris]

Re: New to Me Boat - Need Help

If you have the resistance wire still in the circuit to the coil, then use the standard coil.

There is another thread running very similar to your questions. Have a read of this one and you might find some more information that could help you...

http://forums.iboats.com/mercruiser...ctronic-ignition-voltage-question-623195.html

Chris.......

 

[tsnipes]

Re: New to Me Boat - Need Help

Just got finished reading that thread. I will follow along with it. I believe I have it about figured out. The resistance wire is still present and the P/O had just installed a new coil and I purchased another new coil during my troubleshooting because I was not getting spark from the one that was on the boat. So, I have two basically new coils, both externally resisted.

I will order a set from on here and go from there. I guess once I get it installed, I can come back here to get the details sorted out.

Thanks again for all your assistance. I hope to be running soon.

 

[tsnipes]

Re: New to Me Boat - Need Help

Ok, so the Pertronix kits listed on EBay state that they are for a Delco distributor. I looked at the tag on my distributor and did some searching and found that my distributor is a YL673 AV, which I believe is a Mallory.

Question: Will the Mallory conversion kit listed on this site work with this distributor? Both of the kits listed say that they are also for the Delco distributor. Is there a kit for this distributor or am I going to have to bite the bullet and buy a new distributor?

 

[tsnipes]

Re: New to Me Boat - Need Help

Ok, found this on the Summit Racing website: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/maa-61008m/overview/

I believe this will work. Any thoughts?

 

[tsnipes]

Re: New to Me Boat - Need Help

Well, went ahead and ordered the kit from Summit in the above post. Got no feedback, so decided to give it a try. Worst thing that can happen is it doesn't work. Thanks.

 

[achris]

Re: New to Me Boat - Need Help

Yeah, sorry about that, but unless anyone has personal experience with exactly that kit on the same distributor you have, it's a bit of a moot point.... All I would say is that it looks like it should work... And that's not a lot of help

Chris....

 

[tsnipes]

Re: New to Me Boat - Need Help

Yeah, sorry about that, but unless anyone has personal experience with exactly that kit on the same distributor you have, it's a bit of a moot point.... All I would say is that it looks like it should work... And that's not a lot of help

Chris....

Understood, and many thanks. I will let everyone know if it works in case anyone else has the same issue.

 

[achris]

Re: New to Me Boat - Need Help

Understood, and many thanks. I will let everyone know if it works in case anyone else has the same issue.

And that's the beauty of a forum such as this... Everyone can learn from others' personal experience where it counts...

Thanks T... Looking forward to the outcome.

Chris.....

 

[tsnipes]

Re: New to Me Boat - Need Help

And that's the beauty of a forum such as this... Everyone can learn from others' personal experience where it counts...

Thanks T... Looking forward to the outcome.

Chris.....

I agree 100%. FYI, the t is Tim.

I have learned a lot from this forum and plan to hit it again in the restoration forum at some point with this boat. I had started one thread there, but that project got sidetracked by unforeseen issues. Hopefully, this one will be seen through to the end, which is intended to be a full restoration.