Coil Change disappointment / questions

[terry 5.2m]

Good Morning Gents,

So I ordered 4 coils for my 77 Johnson 115Hp even though #4 appeared to be the only "bad' coils as it had a crack in the insulation. Instead of checking the other coils with Ohm meter etc I figured WTH I'll just replace all of them as they appear to be the originals.

I opted to go with the OEM BPD direct replacments. My disappointment comes from the fact that I still had to make the wires connections etc. I have never made plug wires so it was a bit tedious. Looking back I wish I had bought the CDI coil packs as the wires appear to come preassembeld etc.

Questions:

1. When installing the spring coil the directions said for it to touch the wire. Ok fair enough but that is a failry open for interpreation statement. I have it positioned such that the wire is bent over by the spring coil. Is this ok? Or is it to just bairly make a connection. Incedentally I have several poked holes in the insulation form trying to get the connection just right. Is that ok?

2. While I tried to get the sharp end of the spring coil dead nuts in the center of the wire they are not perfectly centered but appear to make contact with at least a portion of the internal wires. Is this Ok?

3. While stripping the coil wire back 1/8" I have accidentally stripped/cut off 1 of the 4 (or 5?) wires inside the insulation. Is this a big deal?

4. Can I caulk around the coil wire where it threads into the coil itself to create a good seal? The factory coils are totally sealed in this area.

Lastly are there any tricks to this or other steps I should take to ensure good fit and finish?

All in all I am disappointed in the construction of the purchase. I bought what I thought would be a direct OEM replacement and not a one size fits all Kit that I would have to assemble...sort of. I knew the pic depicted them in pieces but I guess I wasnt thinking thoroughly.

Since I am dying to go to the lake this weekend I really do not want to ship them back and wait another 7-10 days for the CDI coils packs although if it were winter I probably would.

thanks in advance for the help/comments

 

[oldcatamount]

Re: Coil Change disappointment / questions

You have described the exact same procedure that I do when changing coils. It sounds like you have everything good to go. You can (if You want to) apply a dab of silicone around the coil/plug wire connection. Other than that, I'd say you're all set.

 

[terry 5.2m]

Re: Coil Change disappointment / questions

You have described the exact same procedure that I do when changing coils. It sounds like you have everything good to go. You can (if You want to) apply a dab of silicone around the coil/plug wire connection. Other than that, I'd say you're all set.

Thanks

I was just worried about the connections at the spring cup. I have used a different style of spring cup, automotive, where you can use a crimping tool. Just never saw this style where you push a sharp edge into the insulation to hold it in place. I wonder if I can buy the automotive style cups instead?

I think I should go back and make sure I do not have any wires that are nicked or missing from tripping the insulation.

And I would like to caulk(?) around the wire where it is screwed into the coil to hol it in place.

anyone else care to comment. it is always appreciated.

 

[busted-bayliner]

Re: Coil Change disappointment / questions

Thanks

I was just worried about the connections at the spring cup. I have used a different style of spring cup, automotive, where you can use a crimping tool. Just never saw this style where you push a sharp edge into the insulation to hold it in place. I wonder if I can buy the automotive style cups instead?

I think I should go back and make sure I do not have any wires that are nicked or missing from tripping the insulation.

And I would like to caulk(?) around the wire where it is screwed into the coil to hol it in place.

anyone else care to comment. it is always appreciated.

i had the same set up on mine where you push in the sharp edge to me didnt seem like a permanent fix so i bought auto ends an solder the wire to the end then crimp the ends on now my mind is at ease

 

[terry 5.2m]

Re: Coil Change disappointment / questions

i had the same set up on mine where you push in the sharp edge to me didnt seem like a permanent fix so i bought auto ends an solder the wire to the end then crimp the ends on now my mind is at ease

Well now, that is a nice segway into what I was going to ask this morning. I am looking at doing the same thing.

I have been looking at autozone's website to see if I can just buy the terminal end but they all say min wire size is 8mm. The diameter of my wires from the kit is 7mm.

Where did you get your terminal ends?

Can one simply use automotive plug wires?

Thanks

 

[bonzoscott]

Re: Coil Change disappointment / questions

O'Reillys has the 7mm metal core plug wire and accesories.

 

[busted-bayliner]

Re: Coil Change disappointment / questions

O'Reillys has the 7mm metal core plug wire and accesories.

^ this is where

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: Coil Change disappointment / questions

Your comment on item 4 is confusing to me. It sounds like you are trying to thread the a new coil wire back onto an original 1977 coil. If you bought new coils with new wiresets, the coil end of the wire snaps onto the coil post. The other end snaps onto the spark plug. Bombardier sells new/replacement coil wires (separately) and are not made to be connected to original 1977 coils. Did you purchase 4 new coils with 4 wiresets?

 

[terry 5.2m]

Re: Coil Change disappointment / questions

Your comment on item 4 is confusing to me. It sounds like you are trying to thread the a new coil wire back onto an original 1977 coil. If you bought new coils with new wiresets, the coil end of the wire snaps onto the coil post. The other end snaps onto the spark plug. Bombardier sells new/replacement coil wires (separately) and are not made to be connected to original 1977 coils. Did you purchase 4 new coils with 4 wiresets?

I bought the coils from BRP. http://www.marineengine.com/newparts/part_details.php?pnum=OMC0502888&ptype=&Engine=&Model=

The kit actually came with the coil construction silimar to the originals BUT the plug wire was bare and required me assembling the spring cup on one end and threading the plug wire into the coil at the other end. There is not a snap in place connection on the coil like the CDI version.

http://www.marineengine.com/newparts/part_details.php?pnum=CDI183-2091&ptype=&Engine=&Model=

I went with the OEM set since, well, it said OEM but I will not buy this style again. This is a universal kit.

I picked up the crimp style spark plug cup from Orielly's and will solder it as well as crimp but the coil end is still less than satisfactory. It literally just threads into the coil. I did find a peice from Orielly's that I may try later but it was an order part.

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: Coil Change disappointment / questions

I stand corrected on the coils. The older V4's that use the single power pack with the screw terminals use that older style coil which you purchased. The replacement coils I was referring to replace the 78 and later ones-with the newer style power packs. You got the correct ones.

 

[terry 5.2m]

Re: Coil Change disappointment / questions

Update:

Got the 7mm terminals from Orielly's. Soldered in place installed and went to the Lake.

Idle was good at 700ish rpms with no need to prick around with the high speed idle. WHOOHOO

Once I sat and fished for 45min and started back up it there was a ploom of smake at first then it went away. My guess is too much fuel in carb after sitting or?

The more times I stopped the worse the idle would be when I started it back up.

When I got back home I checked the plugs and #2 and #4 showed more soot than 1 and 3.

Looking like I am going to have to rebuild the carbs or does any one have a different opinion?

Note: I plan on doing a spark check with an elcheapo checker from memory I believe I need to set the gap of the checker to 7/16"?

comments/advice?

thx

 

[fireman57]

Re: Coil Change disappointment / questions

the soot on the plugs show a poor ignition of the fuel aka still intermittent spark possible. Carb clean/rebuild never a bad idea with today's gasoline. Spark must jump 7/16" and a bright blue snap. yellow spark will not do.