Timing on a 1977 351W OMC I/O HELP!!

[Galloping Ghost]

Help! I am trying to set the timing on this I/O and have purchased three different timing lights - none of them are giving me any light at all - i have decided I am stupid, and the lights must work. I have set the wiring up in every way I can think of, and still nothing. I was reading the repair manual, and it talked about getting an adapter, hooking it directly to the spark plug.... I cannot find any adapters, and am going a bit crazy here. Any help woulf ber more than apprecitaed. Thank you!!!<br />Jerry

 

[hoot]

Re: Timing on a 1977 351W OMC I/O HELP!!

how are you hooking up the timing light? is your engine running?

 

[Galloping Ghost]

Re: Timing on a 1977 351W OMC I/O HELP!!

i am hooking up the timing light with the red lead on the positive terminal on the battery, the black lead on a good ground on the block, and the pick up lead on the #1 wire - i have tried both batterites, changed the engine ground, used the battery ground, put the test lead on different plug wires...... is it the same basic hookup as a car timing test? thanks for the speedy reply! and yes, the engine is running.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Timing on a 1977 351W OMC I/O HELP!!

Originally posted by Galloping Ghost:<br /> i am hooking up the timing light with the red lead on the positive terminal on the battery, the black lead on a good ground on the block, and the pick up lead on the #1 wire - i have tried both batterites, changed the engine ground, used the battery ground, put the test lead on different plug wires...... .

and pulled the trigger? Also the pickup goes on ONE way only.<br /><br />Sorry, gotta ask.<br /><br />Aldo

 

[Galloping Ghost]

Re: Timing on a 1977 351W OMC I/O HELP!!

yes, i pulled the trigger - the pick up is the plug wire clamp right? i have tried it every way. still nothing...

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Timing on a 1977 351W OMC I/O HELP!!

Still a wee bit short on details here. Something is missing. Timing lites are not Saturn Rockets. Try one or all of your lites on a different motor. Clamp over the #1 plug wire, Red and black leads to the battery. Start motor. Pull trigger and voila, flashing lite.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Timing on a 1977 351W OMC I/O HELP!!

The inductive puckup (the thing that clamps on the plug wire) should have an arrow that points TOWARDS the plug, won't work the other way.<br /><br />Saturn rocket is a single cylinder, doesn't need timing <br /><br />Aldo

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Timing on a 1977 351W OMC I/O HELP!!

Originally posted by Dunaruna:<br /> Saturn rocket is a single cylinder, doesn't need timing Aldo

That's the way they should all be. Just light the fuse and gooooooooooo!

 

[Alexo1us]

Re: Timing on a 1977 351W OMC I/O HELP!!

Just a thought but have you hooked both cables to the battery directly. Also are you sure the plug wire is good?

 

[Elk Chaser]

Re: Timing on a 1977 351W OMC I/O HELP!!

You've done everything right. <br /><br />Now pull the #1 plug and hold it with a pair of insulated pliers against the block with the wire hooked up and have someone crank the engine over and see if #1 is working at all. <br /><br />You can also put the pick up on any other wire for testing..... can't time it but you can see if the lights working and plug wires are working.

 

[Galloping Ghost]

Re: Timing on a 1977 351W OMC I/O HELP!!

Ahh tis' a wonderful thing to have a timing light that works!! Thank you all for your lovely replies, and remember, Some things made in the USA don't always work as well as those made overseas...

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Timing on a 1977 351W OMC I/O HELP!!

Did you get it working?