electronic ignition?

[coolguy147]

anybody know of an electronic ignition conversion for the old mercury outboards

i know the old car motors have them.

 

[coolguy147]

Re: electronic ignition?

found this lol

http://books.google.com/books?id=wN...onic ignition conversion for outboard&f=false

the article looks a bit old though

 

[Willyclay]

Re: electronic ignition?

That article was written before Earthlings went to the moon and some of the technological developements like WD-40 were shared with the masses! Another forum member recommended the NOVA II modules found at the website below. There are others which I will add if I can find them.

http://gardentractorpullingtips.com/a1elect.htm

 

[coolguy147]

Re: electronic ignition?

lol i wouldn't even know where to start on that website.

 

[Willyclay]

Re: electronic ignition?

Scroll down to find the listings for NOVA II. If that does not work for you, try searching online for MEGA FIRE II ignition modules from Stens. I think they are the same thing just with a different brand name. Try p/n ST440-465. Sierra used to list them but they were pricey! FYI, other forum members say your flywheel magnets and coils must be in good shape to make these things work properly. Some members have reported hard-starting problems after installing them but that may be an indication of something else. Let us know what you decide.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: electronic ignition?

Coolguy, Merc had CDI ign in the late 60s. just how old a motor are you asking about?

 

[coolguy147]

Re: electronic ignition?

1961 merc500

it's just that the cap and rotor are like impossible to find and to convert would be really expensive.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: electronic ignition?

Most of those older CDI conversion units still used the original cap and rotor. They provided a CDI function by lowering the voltage across the points, simulating an SCR (switch) and providing a high voltage (300V) to the ign coil. This changed the plug voltage from 20K volts to 300KV (or so). Some needed special ign coils to deliver that kind of voltage.

if you want to replace the cap and rotor, I would think you will need some exotic set up with multiple ign systems, one for each cylinder. Your motor is 4 cylinders? Merc does it on the modern motors with trigger coils and magnets on the flywheels. Merc 500s as well as other Merc inline 4 cylinder motors have been around forever. Maybe you can adapt a flywheel and trigger coils from a mid 70s Merc 500. If you can make that happen, the rest of the ADI ignition will be easier.

 

[coolguy147]

Re: electronic ignition?

what about setting the timing and getting it tuned right?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: electronic ignition?

As I implied in my previous post, adapting a more modern Merc ign systems is probably the easiest way to go. You may end up welding on some brackets to accept a trigger coil, and working out some linkage to adjust it properly. If you can find a way to bolt on an ADI system, with the correct flywheel, you should be able to figure out how to time it properly.

Just a suggested approach.....it may be unfeasible.

 

[coolguy147]

Re: electronic ignition?

has anybody else ever done this?

it may be feasible but if i find a cap and rotor it would be cheaper lol