1972 75 hp ran then died

[kgroom]

Hi all i have a question, we just went out on the lake with my boat the motor is a 1972 75 hp chrysler motor. the motor started right up and we took off around the lake. everything was great and then i had it half throttle and it just died( shut off). tryed to turn the key and nothing. no sound of the motor even wanting to try. the flywheel turns by hand so the motor is not locked up, we looked to see if there are loose wires and seen nothing. the boat lights and everything still come on with the switch. just nothing when i turn the key. please help... thanks.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: 1972 75 hp ran then died

Only thing I can figure is: Those engines had several of the ignition wires passing over the block, under the flywheel. Occasionally a wire will vibrate up into the flywheel, rubbing off the insulation and shorting thus tripping the circuit breaker.

When the breaker trips, all power to the ignition stops and the engine shuts down as if you turned off the key. It will not crank until the breaker is re-set.

Check the wires where they pass under the flywheel then check the circuit breaker. It may have tripped for another reason. It will be a rectangle on the bottom of the terminal board next to the starter motor. Usually, the earlier model Chrysler engines had a tin breaker which would re-set itself after about ten minutes or so. If you have the black plastic circuit breaker, you must push the small button on the bottom to re-set it.