Chris Craft Challenger

[twocyclemania]

Winter project! I'm going to attempt to get my CC Challenger up and running this winter. As I'm going along I'd like to re-paint the motor since the finish is worn to virtually nothing. I'm not into restorations but I'd like it to look presentable. Anybody know a spray can color (and Make of paint) that comes close. It doesn't have to be exact but I'd like it to be close. thanks

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Chris Craft Challenger

Do you have pics of the motor?

 

[twocyclemania]

Re: Chris Craft Challenger

Sorry, it's apart but it looks like any CC Challenger. The Bendix coils are shot and replacements are very expensive. Unless I can find a substitute and do a coil transplant I'm either going to part the motor out or reassemble it and sell it. I hate to do this but spending $100 to $150 for a pair of coils is just too much.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Chris Craft Challenger

You might look into doing some retro-fitting on the winding part and save them. A ChrisCraft Challenger is not a real common motor and worth saving.

 

[tmgman]

Re: Chris Craft Challenger

There is a listing right now on E-bay, someone has a used complete ignition plate assy. for sale. It has both coils, points and all the rest of the assembly for $25.00. It might be worth checking in to. I have one of these motors in the basement, its one of the next projects but I have not started on it yet.

 

[twocyclemania]

Re: Chris Craft Challenger

Thanks for the 'heads-up.' Not a bad buy if you need the whole mag plate. Unfortunately the coils look a lot like mine. I going to give it shot a epoxying the cracks and missing pieces and clean up all the contacts and replace the ignition wires and see if I get a spark. I'll let you know how it works out. l946 Zephyr: do you know anywhere I can get the coils re-wound and what that would cost? thanks guys!

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Chris Craft Challenger

Well, I would go to the aomci website and rub some elbows with some of the guys there. Someone will be able to point you in the right direction. There are members who modify different coils, by using windings from the OMC coils. It's a good place for you to visit, especially if you have a CC Challenger.

 

[twocyclemania]

Re: Chris Craft Challenger

zephyr: Thanks! Good advice. I'm in the process right now of epoxying the existing coils and I'll pick up some new metal core ignition wire tomorrow. If this doesn't work I'll contact AOMC. By the way, I did take a look at trying an OMC coil but it's too fat (will rub the flywheel) and the field is too skinny (ie less than the 7/16 OMC field).

 

[twocyclemania]

Re: Chris Craft Challenger

Update: I cleaned the mag plate, points and all the connections. I epoxyed one of the cracked coils and still have no spark. Ironically I do have spark now from the other cracked coil. I did switch out the condensers and nothing changed. Looks like I have one bad coil. I'm going to replace the ignition wire but I doubt that's the problem; its the only thing left that I can think of. Anybody with any ideas on what I might have missed or what I can do? I'm starting to be inclined now with one cylinder ready to go. I want to see this old CC run.

 

[ronboonville]

Re: Chris Craft Challenger

I am not familiar with your motor but when I used an old omc on my wizard I did not have a grinder to grind down the laminates so I used a large hammer to get it on. wouldn't recomend this as it bent the laminates a little. The flywheel rubbed. so I used my orbital sander to take some material off so it wouldn't rub. I also removed some of the sleeve that the plug wire goes in.
I found a video on you tube on how to check coils with a meter.
Check points again, had a rub block so worn that I think I had a gounding out ploblem on my gale.

 

[twocyclemania]

Re: Chris Craft Challenger

Another update: As it stands I have two cracked coils and a decent spark from one of them. I figured if one of them is working (hopefully under a load) I'd take a stab at the ebay mag plate with coils mentioned by tmgman. They look like mine (cracked) but for the money I though I'd give it a chance. I bought the package for $15. So now I have two additional coils to check out. I'm gambling $15 on on the hopes that at least one of the two works. Will keep you folks informed. Thanks!

 

[ronboonville]

Re: Chris Craft Challenger

I found a paint supplier called reprotint paint, try them. spray cans $20 don't know about shipping tho.

 

[mrcrabs]

Re: Chris Craft Challenger

dumb question here, who made the CC Challenger coils? are they old the plastic coverd wicos?

 

[ronboonville]

Re: Chris Craft Challenger

rustolem metallic blue might work.

 

[twocyclemania]

Re: Chris Craft Challenger

The coils are Bendix 'Scintilla' (whatever that means). They are plastic covered and mount completely different that OMC or Wico's. The metal field is a straight bar shape with the cylindrical coil in the middle;sorta like corn on the cob. They 'clip' on a both ends to an extension of the field that interfaces with the magnet in the center. The ignition wire connects at the bottom of the cylinder where it goes through the mag plate. It sits on a wax-like plate to insulate the spark. Wierd if you're familiar with OMC and even Wico.

 

[mrcrabs]

Re: Chris Craft Challenger

I'm thinking I saw one of those with a OMC coil mounted on that cross bar...I know I saw a twin omc cross bar setup someplace....old merc's used bendix stuff...I bet if you lurk around long enough you could find nice replacments...those cracked coils even the one's you bought on ebay require a paddle to get you back to dock side.

 

[twocyclemania]

Re: Chris Craft Challenger

I epoxied the other coil (where I had no spark) and cleaned up the ignition wire connection on the 'dead' coil and I got spark. I'm not sure if it was the ignition wire or the coil repair that resolved it but anyway I have spark to both cylinders. I picked up new metal core ignition wire today and I'm going to assemble the mag plate. For now (and I don't know under load) I have spark to both cylinders. Next stop is the Tillitson carb. I hate Tillitsons!

fyi I received the other mag plate I got from ebay for $15. I tested the (cracked) coils and both produce spark. I'm going to epoxy them and keep them ready for action.

Keep tuned for further updates on getting this CC running! Thanks everyone for your input.