New Electronic Ignition Installed - problems

[incrediblened]

I just installed new electronic ignition last year. I was looking forward to NOT having to fidget with the boat and put in new points every year. Install was smooth. Started right up. Runs smooth. But when I raise the trim the engine boggs down and tries to die unless it's revved WAY up.

Did I install something wrong?

Mercrusier 470 with alternator conversion kit
Petronix Electronic Ignition

Thanks

 

[JustJason]

Re: New Electronic Ignition Installed - problems

sounds like your losing voltage in the ignition system. Put a meter on the battery and run the trim with the engine running and see if the voltage drops.

 

[incrediblened]

Re: New Electronic Ignition Installed - problems

The engine is currently pulled. I'll have to check it when I get it installed again. Where should the positive lead be connected to? Key, right? The key gets its power from... I dunno. Maybe it's attached to the trim solenoid.... hmm...

 

[WizeOne]

Re: New Electronic Ignition Installed - problems

I would check that you are not powering the coil thru the ballast wire. That will reduce the voltage to the Pertronix to ? 6-9 volts except during starter motor engagement.

Pertronix really wants a full 12 volts.

 

[gdombroski]

Re: New Electronic Ignition Installed - problems

The Pertronix runs fine with resistor wire, coil wire that's activated when key in run position, in place. But, will perform better if you leave resistor wire on coil along with start wire, the 12 V to coil with key in start positon, and then attach red Pertronix wire to resistor wire before point that it becomes resistor or alternator post where its attached so you get 12V to Pertronix at run.
Where did you attach the red Pertronix lead to? If not in either place as above I bet that's your problem

 

[WizeOne]

Re: New Electronic Ignition Installed - problems

The Pertronix runs fine with resistor wire, coil wire that's activated when key in run position, in place. But, will perform better if you leave resistor wire on coil along with start wire, the 12 V to coil with key in start positon, and then attach red Pertronix wire to resistor wire before point that it becomes resistor or alternator post where its attached so you get 12V to Pertronix at run.
Where did you attach the red Pertronix lead to? If not in either place as above I bet that's your problem

You have contradicted your original statement gdombroski. If you hook the pertronix to the wire prior to the ballast/resistor, you are giving it 12v's, just like you would if you ran a straight 12 v to the coil then hooked the Pertronix red lead to it as well. .

 

[Anchor Management 1]

Re: New Electronic Ignition Installed - problems

Yes you must remove the voltage resistor in line to the dis.It now needs a full 12 volts.

 

[gdombroski]

Re: New Electronic Ignition Installed - problems

I don't think I contradicted myself. It was really a two point answer. First the Pertronix will operate with resister wire in place and the red lead on coil positive. Pertronix says that 7-14 volts is the ignitor range. I would hook it up that way first to see if it eliminates this

But when I raise the trim the engine boggs down and tries to die unless it's revved WAY up

That sounds to me like the red wire is hooked to a 12V source that powers the trim motors and when using them reduces the voltage to the Pertronix. If it runs alright doing the basic hookup above it might confirm that.

If it does then I would hook it up as recommended by Pertronix for a 1.4 ohm coil which is to attach red Pertronix wire to resistor wire before point that it becomes resistor or alternator post where its attached so you get 12V to Pertronix at run. That is unless you have a 3ohm coil then you can run 12v to the coil and connect the red to positive coil side. Whichever way if it runs good now you can open plug gap .005 for better efficiency.

 

[incrediblened]

Re: New Electronic Ignition Installed - problems

good now you can open plug gap .005 for better efficiency.

Great tip. Thanks!