mercruiser 898, won't run (or will barely run), at wit's end

[alldodge]

Might need some new wires

 

[jpw1400]

Distributor end play?
I'm fixated on the fact that spark out of the coil looks good, but spark out of the distributor does not. So I am wondering if the issue is that the distributor shaft has settled a little, and there's not good contact between the center carbon brush and the rotor.
I took a quick video of the distributor end play. Please let me know what you think.

-Jim

 

[Scott Danforth]

measure it

if the dizzy bushings are bad, go to NAPA and buy new ones (under $5 each) and re-bush it

however seriously doubt the button and rotor are not making contact. the bushings could be completely gone and the button would make contact. then again, the rotor would contact the cap and then you have a busted cap and busted rotor.

 

[jpw1400]

Might need some new wires

FWIW, I've swapped in a new coil to distributor wire with no change, and I've tested spark plug wire on multiple cylinders with no change.
(And just reiterating... I really appreciate the community support here.)

 

[jpw1400]

I'm ashamed to say that in the course of all this work I rounded off the harmonic balancer bolt, and elated to say the "starter bump" method of removing said bolt worked, and I'll be back at it shortly. More to come (hopefully).