76' mercruiser 888 no go

[gldavison]

Help, I still have yet to get my Carver running well. It has a '76-Ford 302 v8 and I have had it running twice but nothing consistant. I relied on you guys a lot last year for advice perhaps you will remember.

I have fuel but no fire. I tested the coil for voltage and I have 6-7 volts going into coil and 3-4 v going to distributor. This does not seem right to me. Do I start here or do you have other ideas and if so please fill me in. Thank you.

Greg
Sturgeon Bay, WI

 

[Bondo]

Re: 76' mercruiser 888 no go

Ayuh,...

It should show 12V while Starting,+ 6/9V in the Run position....

When was the last time the Points were changed,..??

 

[gldavison]

Re: 76' mercruiser 888 no go

Points condesor cap rotor all were changed last summer when I picked up the boat. I have yet to get it in the water. These voltage readings was taken only on the power in and power out lead (coil ignition wire)of the coil. Not sure how the points would play into this?

Thanks
Greg

 

[Bondo]

Re: 76' mercruiser 888 no go

Not sure how the points would play into this?

Ayuh,....

The Points are on the other end of the wire hooked up to the (-) side of the Coil,....
When the Points Open, releasing their path to Ground,....
The Coil Fires......

If the Points are Burnt, or Glazed,.....

Nothing Works........

 

[gldavison]

Re: 76' mercruiser 888 no go

Thanks, I will check them over. But I should still have 12 v. on the + terminal of the coil when key is in on position? If I do not where do I go from there?
Thanks for your help. I really want to be on the water on Fathers Day.

Greg

 

[Bondo]

Re: 76' mercruiser 888 no go

But I should still have 12 v. on the + terminal of the coil when key is in on position?

It should show 12V while Starting,+ 6/9V in the Run position....

Ayuh,...

The "On" position Is in fact the "Run" position.....

Full battery voltage will only be present in the "Start" key position.....

 

[gldavison]

Re: 76' mercruiser 888 no go

and if in the start (cranking) position I only have 7 v then I need to look at my solenoid right?

 

[JustJason]

Re: 76' mercruiser 888 no go

check to see if you have a ballast resistor inline, if you do check the voltage drop across it

 

[gldavison]

Re: 76' mercruiser 888 no go

will do!

 

[gldavison]

Re: 76' mercruiser 888 no go

OK back at the solenoid I have 12 v going in and when cranking only 8v coming out. New solenoid?

Thanks

 

[Don S]

Re: 76' mercruiser 888 no go

Sounds to me like you should charge your battery. Put you meter on the battery terminals. See EXACTLY what the voltage is before you crank the engine and during cranking.

 

[gldavison]

Re: 76' mercruiser 888 no go

Thanks- before cranking the battery reads 12-13 v, while cranking the voltage drops to 10v? I did put the charger on it. Any further directions?

Thanks for your help.
Greg

 

[Don S]

Re: 76' mercruiser 888 no go

Now, you are getting some readings that actually mean something. Keep the battery charger on for a while. A dead battery is 12.0 Volts a good battery is 12.5 Minimum.

Put a jumper wire from the Pos (+) battery terminal to the + terminal on the ignition coil. Now check and see if you have spark.
Not sure how you are checking for spark, but remove the coil wire out of the distributor cap and hold it about a 1/2" from a good clean engine ground. It should show a bright blue spark.

If no spark, remove the distributor cap and rotor. Now turn the engine so the points are open. With the ignition switch turned to on, use a screw driver blade and touch the metal parts across the contact area of the points. Does the screwdriver blade spark when you touch and let off?

 

[gldavison]

Re: 76' mercruiser 888 no go

Thanks for the directions Don. I am heading out right now to do as you recommended and I will get back to you. Thanks for your advice.
Greg

 

[gldavison]

Re: 76' mercruiser 888 no go

I did not have any spark w/jumper from bat. to coil. I pulled dist. cap and rotor. began to turn engine over via flywheel but noticed the distributor was not rotating? Now I need to explore this.

Greg

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: 76' mercruiser 888 no go

Yes, that could be a problem.....
Use a remote srater switch to crank the engine, if the rotor is not turning, it will never start......​

 

[gldavison]

Re: 76' mercruiser 888 no go

OK, I got the dist. pulled out and reseated and now the rotor turns. Not sure what was going on there but I am guessing it is going to require re setting the timing right?

Back to Don's advice. I did get a spark w/key on and shorting between points w/screwdriver when points were open.
I still get nothing from the coil however w/jumper from battery. What next please?

Thanks,
Greg

 

[gldavison]

Re: 76' mercruiser 888 no go

I tested my coil with an ohms meter and the primary showed 4-5 and the secondary showed nothing? Any clue?

 

[Don S]

Re: 76' mercruiser 888 no go

Put a coil on it.

 

[gldavison]

Re: 76' mercruiser 888 no go

will do. Thanks