79 mercury 90hp 900 no spark

talbee

Seaman
Joined
Jul 26, 2015
Messages
62
Thanks Chris. One last question. Is there any way to rebuild a trigger and not spend $300? I'm just curious to see if it's just a loose wire connection.
 

CharlieB

Vice Admiral
Joined
Apr 10, 2007
Messages
5,617
I do not know of any separate trigger. It only is available as part of the Dist. CDI Electronics used to sell them, don't know I've been gone a few years. The Amazon link should be a good assy.
 

talbee

Seaman
Joined
Jul 26, 2015
Messages
62
Really hard to find a complete distibutor assembly. I found out the trigger cannot be rebuilt.

Is there an assembly that would be compatible? I know a 115hp is, but any others?
 
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Faztbullet

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 2, 2008
Messages
15,936
That trigger is used on the 4 and 6 cylinder inlines of various horsepowers, the only difference is the trigger wheel.....I do not suggest buying a used unit as the wires are usually rotten and usually no warranty and seller usually don't test them.
 

talbee

Seaman
Joined
Jul 26, 2015
Messages
62
Thank Faztbullet.

I called various local marine shops. Apparently they're idiots and don't know any compatible parts and aren't willing to help find one since my motor isn't 1985-newer. But, they're willing to try to sell me a motor.

If any of these great minds in these forums can help me find a compatible distributor assembly for my 1978 Mercury 900 90HP that would be great. It's about 7 months since it has seen water.
 
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talbee

Seaman
Joined
Jul 26, 2015
Messages
62
Thanks for the link. A few people have told me it cannot be rebuilt and I need to buy the part as a whole. Is this actually true?
 

talbee

Seaman
Joined
Jul 26, 2015
Messages
62
Can my trigger/distributor be rebuilt?
I put the part number in and only comes up the shaft part, not the entire unit.
 

Chris1956

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 25, 2004
Messages
28,543
I have never used that part from CDI. There is a PDF you can download that tells how to install it. I would review that and see if it makes sense.
 

talbee

Seaman
Joined
Jul 26, 2015
Messages
62
I know some distributor assemblies can be took apart.

I took off mine to to see if it's possible, but it doesn't appear to be. Some ppl say it can be, while others say "no". I would like to know what is true pls.

I've been having this issue for about 7 months and got it narrowed down to a possible trigger issue. I really want to take the family out on our boat again. I'm getting to the point where I wanna give up and just buy a new/used motor because specific parts, like the distributor assembly, are very hard to find.

I would really like to know what distributor assemblies are compatible so I can expand my searches. I've been looking for this part for almost 3 weeks.
 

Faztbullet

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 2, 2008
Messages
15,936
I would really like to know what distributor assemblies are compatible so I can expand my searches.
As I posted earlier....
That trigger is used on the 4 and 6 cylinder inlines of various horsepowers, the only difference is the trigger wheel.....I do not suggest buying a used unit as the wires are usually rotten and usually no warranty and seller usually don't test them.
If you need HPs...4 cylinder 650/800/850/80/85 and 6 cylinder 900/1150/1500/90/115/140 pre 1980. And years ago Repair/CDI would repair them(trigger) but now they only do the "horseshoe" trigger on a R&R basis...so no they are not repairable...
 
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