Mercrusier spark.....I need help

[Deebsey]

I have acquired another boat its a 1977 Glastron ssv 189 with a inline 6 merc. The kicker is there is no spark so I replaced the coil still no spark.....Asked the guy at the parts store and he sold me another coil but made sure this time it was one that didn't need a external resister hooked that up and still no spark. Ran a new wire from the key directly to the coil and still no spark. Installed a new key switch and still no spark. This thing is driving me nuts. Now what should I do replace the points, distributor, sell the boat before my head explodes?huh? Anyone have any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

BTY, its an old distributor with points and a GM block

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Mercrusier spark.....I need help

You are throwing parts at it without diagnosing....
You need to get an electrical tester & find out the last place you have 12v in the path from the battery to the coil....
You haven't even begun to diagnose, it is way too early to throw in the towel....
If you are not getting 12v at the 'BAT" on the key switch, your problems are further back....
In the 'adults only ' section at the top of the page, download manual #2 & look at the schematics.....

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Mercrusier spark.....I need help

Howdy,

Well your problem is by no means unique!

I will start by suggesting that you do a little reading on points ignition systems. They are pretty simple and easy to troubleshoot!

Here's a pretty good one: http://www.familycar.com/Classroom/ignition.htm

Please understand I'm not trying to insult your intelligence But to trouble shoot it's good if you are at a "known point" in your understanding of the system.


It'll be an easy fix then...

Regards,


Rick

 

[Evinrude Boater]

Re: Mercrusier spark.....I need help

Is it in neutral? Does it have a neutral safety switch?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Mercrusier spark.....I need help

Is it in neutral? Does it have a neutral safety switch?

Ran a new wire from the key directly to the coil and still no spark.

It looks like he bypassed the neutral safety switch.



If you do not have a test light or a simple volt meter, get one.

The first thing to check is whether there's voltage at the + side of the coil.

If there is, you can reach into the dist and open the points by hand........ and when they open, the coil should produce a spark. If it doesn't, you probably have a short somewhere in the points side of the circuit, or a bad (open/shorted) condenser or an open (or shorted) coil

 

[hoot]

Re: Mercrusier spark.....I need help

see if there is a safety kill switch by the pilot's chair. perhaps it is grounding out the coil.

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercrusier spark.....I need help

If the points have been in there over a year, they are probably glazed over from corrosion and/or non use, and need replaced.
Open them up and look. If they are not shiny, replace them. Bet it has spark then. Be sure to set the dwell and reset the timing after the dwell is set.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Mercrusier spark.....I need help

It looks like he bypassed the neutral safety switch.


If there is, you can reach into the dist and open the points by hand........ and when they open, the coil should produce a spark. If it doesn't, you probably have a short somewhere in the points side of the circuit, or a bad (open/shorted) condenser or an open (or shorted) coil

And another thing to check (that bit me recently) is to see that the points are properly adjusted. Mine were perfectly fine, but somehow had moved over the winter so that the cam on the distributor never pushed them hard enough to separate the contacts... hence, all parts were good, voltages were good, but no spark coming from the coil because it never got grounded out.

Erik

 

[Deebsey]

Re: Mercrusier spark.....I need help

WOW! What great advise I am gonna get new points in the am and try that first. The wiring diagram helped a ton seems that the previous owner tried to fix it first. THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE!

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Mercrusier spark.....I need help

WOW! What great advise I am gonna get new points in the am and try that first. The wiring diagram helped a ton seems that the previous owner tried to fix it first. THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE!

One easy way to check if it's the points is to remove the dist cap and connect a spark plug to the coil (HV) wire (& ground the plug)

Turn the distributor (engine) so the points are open.

Hot-wire the coil (+) to 12v like you did above.....

Use a short piece of wire or even a screw driver blade to short across the open points.

When you disconnect the "shorting" wire or remove the blade from across the points, the plug should fire..

You can also leave the dist in a position so the points are closed and open them manually. Every time you open the points, the plug above should fire.

 

[cr2k]

Re: Mercrusier spark.....I need help

Points that run all summer won't "move" by them selves. Either the retaining screw was loose or someone forgot to put the grease on the dist. cam.

On a Points equipped boat they are always the first suspect for no spark.
And oh so easy to check.

In my 17 years in marine and 40+ in automotive work I have replaced a total of 3 coils on an automotive based engine. They don't bad that often.
Outboard on the other hand...