1964 merc 850 ignition issues

[LitlJohn]

just acquired a 1964 850. nice motor, good compression, clean and all the wiring inside the motor housing is in pretty good shape. no key available so had to take switch out to hot wire it. wiring there is horrible but engine is going on different boat. put a jumper switch in the starter circuit, starter spins it great. Hooked a jumper to the wire that should energize the ignition and no spark. One wire to a set of diodes(?) in the front shows hot but nothing else. the wires that should be hot show continuity to ground(the engine block). Coils are not getting any power. Don't understand this one. any help would be great

 

[Texasmark]

If like current Commander 2000 bulkhead mounted with fast idle lever, and 3000 in bulkhead mounted with shifter disable for fast idle function:
Power/Ground are received from the engine on Red and Black wires.

Off position grounds triggers through the black/yellow stripe wire
On /Run: Red input connects to red/purple for switched power distribution
Start: Same as Run but includes power on the yellow/red stripe to energize starting solenoid
Push: Choke/Fuel enrichment on later engines, power on the yellow/black stripe wire.

Don't know what you undid on your switch for your hot wire, but if it is still connected to the harness with your just pulling out the wires you mentioned, the switch is in the off position grounding out your triggers.

 

[racerone]

Wait a minute here.-----Is this not a 6 cylinder motor with 2 coils / breaker points / resistors for limiting battery current to points when running.-------I do not believe there are " triggers " on this motor !

 

[LitlJohn]

Thank you for looking at this! Wires at back of switch are horrible, all the ins. is falling off, and I'm color blind. Makes it hard. Switch is still wired in. identified power into switch. wire through neutral start has to be starter solenoid, hooked a jumper switch there and starter is great. Black wire is ground, choke is blue and hooks to the ground on one side. last wire available has to be ignition but i jumpered power to it and still no spark. I'm confused, is the switch grounding the system ?

 

[LitlJohn]

Push button for choke is hooked on one side to the black/ground on back of key switch. Shows continuity through the button all the time whether the button is depressed or not