Alter Bootsmann
Seaman Apprentice
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2011
- Messages
- 34
I just converted my Mercruiser 888 to electronic ignition today. It is a 1973 model that had been rebuilt in '88 and the original distributor was replaced then by the original owner. He replaced the original distributor with an Excel dual points automotive type. I bought the boat in '95 and it has worked fine since then. However I have wanted to do the electronic conversion for a while. Since the distributor (Excel) is not a Marine type and I probably could not get a Pertronix kit for an aftermarket dist anyway, I chose to go with the Mallory Marine magnetic switching type distributor. Mallory Marine YLM512CV is what I have installed.
Here is where I need help badly. I was told by the instructions to wire the unit one of 3 ways, all pertaining to the type of coil I currently have in use.
Instructions say if you have an external ballast type resistor for the coil to wire it one way, the other two options are actually wired the same.
One of these two methods has a wire type resistor inline with positive terminal of coil.
The last option is for a coil with enough internal resistance. On both of these types of installs you wire the red wire from the distributor directly to the + terminal of coil.
What I don't truly know is whether or not my coil has enough impedence to handle this or not? I measured resistance across the + and - terminals and got around 1.9 to a little over 2 ohms.
I don't know if my current coil is the original or not. It has Delco Remy 293 B-R on it.
I called Mallory and the tech said he believed I would be OK wiring it as stated in the later discription.(red wire to + terminal directly.
Well I installed the distributor and the boat started right up immediately. I set the timing and she runs great. However the thought that I may have wired it incorrectly is driving me nuts. I am afraid I will burn my new distributor up.
When I looked up the original Mercruiser coil for my boat. The pictures show a coil that says "must be used with external resistor."
I also believe I am correct in saying that all working coils have a minimum impedence anyway so I am just stumped. Does anyone know if I will be OK the way I have it installed?
Thank you!
Here is where I need help badly. I was told by the instructions to wire the unit one of 3 ways, all pertaining to the type of coil I currently have in use.
Instructions say if you have an external ballast type resistor for the coil to wire it one way, the other two options are actually wired the same.
One of these two methods has a wire type resistor inline with positive terminal of coil.
The last option is for a coil with enough internal resistance. On both of these types of installs you wire the red wire from the distributor directly to the + terminal of coil.
What I don't truly know is whether or not my coil has enough impedence to handle this or not? I measured resistance across the + and - terminals and got around 1.9 to a little over 2 ohms.
I don't know if my current coil is the original or not. It has Delco Remy 293 B-R on it.
I called Mallory and the tech said he believed I would be OK wiring it as stated in the later discription.(red wire to + terminal directly.
Well I installed the distributor and the boat started right up immediately. I set the timing and she runs great. However the thought that I may have wired it incorrectly is driving me nuts. I am afraid I will burn my new distributor up.
When I looked up the original Mercruiser coil for my boat. The pictures show a coil that says "must be used with external resistor."
I also believe I am correct in saying that all working coils have a minimum impedence anyway so I am just stumped. Does anyone know if I will be OK the way I have it installed?
Thank you!