1988 OMC ESA with MSD ignition help!!

[rboyer224]

Hello everyone. This is my first post on this website. I have read numerous posts and figured this would be the best place to get a good answer. I recently purchased a 1988 Four Winns 201 Liberator with the OMC 5.7L King Cobra in it. It runs excellent but dies when shifting into Reverse, not out of. I plan on helping the engine's low idle a bit by installing an MSD marine ignition system but it sounds like I'll have to modifiy the ESA to work with the new system. Can somebody tell me what it is I need to do to use the MSD? It's their marine distributor, 6M-2 box and blaster 2 high vibration coil. My current system is points and the two switch (interrupter and overstroke) system. The boat never dies coming out of gear, just going into gear, reverse mostly. From what I understand, the ESA and interrupter is only supposed to effect the out of gear shiffting. Thanks in advance for any and all help.

 

[carpaediem123]

Re: 1988 OMC ESA with MSD ignition help!!

I have the same boat and I replaced my points with an electronic ignition module last season. WOW, what a difference. I did not replace the whole distributer, just the points with an ECM. I too was concerned about the idle interrupter switch so I let my local marina handle (after voicing my concern)

They removed the points, installed the ECM, adjusted my shift linkage, and it has been smooth sailing (hauling *****) since.

Cost $350 total.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 1988 OMC ESA with MSD ignition help!!

Oh GAWD Another LIBERATOR.....I KNEW they made more than a few of those things!!!!!!

You have a shift cable and/or shift plate adjustment problem. The ESA is supposed to cause the engine to "stumble" by pulsing the ignition when it comes out of gear. (not going into gear usually) If it only does it going into 1 gear but not the other it's a simple adjustment problem.....

I had a different problem with my King Cobra but I also fixed it differently (is that a word?)


A Liberator is a neet boat!

Cheers,


Rick

 

[rboyer224]

Re: 1988 OMC ESA with MSD ignition help!!

Thanks guys. And yes, I really do like this boat. I purchased the Seloc manual for the boat from this site but it doesn't seam to talk about adjusting the shifting cables, just removing and replacing them. Am I going to need some resistor or diode between the coil and ESA? I have a completley new MSD marine distributor and ignition box. I know it runs on 12V, is the ESA only supposed to see 6V? Thanks again.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: 1988 OMC ESA with MSD ignition help!!

Here is the link to the adjustment.

http://www.hastings.org/~stuart/cobra/kw-shift.html

 

[rboyer224]

Re: 1988 OMC ESA with MSD ignition help!!

Thanks, I have printed out that procedure and plan on trying that next week. Anybody have any answers to the Ignition problem?

 

[rboyer224]

Re: 1988 OMC ESA with MSD ignition help!!

Okay guys, I need help.... After looking over the wiring diagrams, I can't see where or how the ESA is only getting 6 volts. I'm going to run it in the driveway this weekend and do some checking with the multimeter. Maybee there's only 6V coming off the alternator?? Anyway, I know electronics so I could just put a resistor in front of the ESA, but I don't know what amps to use in the formula. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: 1988 OMC ESA with MSD ignition help!!

Not sure why you think the ESA runs off 6v because it does run off 12v. A quick test for you to see if the ESA is causing the stall problem would be to disconnect the 2 wire connector (purple and grey wires) and try it. It may be a little harder to get it out of gear into neutral but this is just a test. If it still stalls then it's not the ESA causing it. How low are your RPM's, it really like them to be between 550-650 at idle (in gear).

 

[gdombroski]

Re: 1988 OMC ESA with MSD ignition help!!

You have several issues here. First the slow idle may be causing the stall. Try bumping it up about 50 rpm's. If that doesn't work may need linkage adjustment. Do the five step as described in the Hastings link.
Now electronic ignition upgrades are not normally compatible with OE ESA's. The Pertronix requires a diode fix to work that's described on their site. Don't know MSD. CDI Electronics makes an ESA that is compatible with electronic ignitions. On top of this issue is if you upgrade your coil from the OE 1.4 ohm coils and/or disconnect ballast to coil to get 12V's you will burn out even the CDI ESA's. I know because I did this two summers ago and burnt out my CDI ESA's. When I contacted them they said they were aware of that problem and a ballast resistor was required (which only they sell). In fact their new ESA installation instructions make note of it. They did replace the ESA's and sent me three documents on troubleshooting/wiring/etc. Although they are not avialable on their site for some reason. I have the PDF files but can't link them here. If you would like them I would email them to you.
Correction, the troubleshooting guide is here http://cdielectronics.com/portals/0/downloads/Troubleshooting%20Guide%202006.pdf The last few pages address OMC ignition wiring