ESA module help please

[lyn battles]

I have a 1987 cobra drive with a 350 motor
I just purchased it last year but someone cut the grey wire to ESA
I have a hei distributer and from the looks of it I have the
old style ESA with the blue jumper wire.is there any way of testing the ESA to check If it's fried. What do I need to do
to make the ESA work do I need to buy a new one and new wire harness
will it need the diodes and resistors. I have no clue what I need to make it work. Thanks to all in advance for any help

 

[rodbolt]

Re: ESA module help please

OMC NEVER used HEI.
HEI was general motors early High Energy Ignition system but was NEVER adapted to the marine market.
you could have the prestolite BID system, the ford spitfire system or the delco EST.
a picture about now would be worth about 10 posts.
if the ignition system was added to or upgraded then its very possible the ESA was removed from the shift cut circuit. a modification I do several times each year.

 

[lyn battles]

Re: ESA module help please

I will get a pic. In the morning when I get home
I think it's a automotive distributer. But the boat idles around 500
but will not go in or out of gear. Very easy. I cut the rpm to 250 and it shifts good just don't idle very well at that speed. When I bought the boat the guy had put a new motor in it and I am betting it's a average auto 350. I will post pics in the morning. I am new to inboard motors. I have always worked on outboards.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: ESA module help please

yes pics, if its an automotive distributer you may wish to change it to a marine one, they dont tend to go kaboom as often.

 

[lyn battles]

Re: ESA module help please

How can you tell the difference in them
I know that's probaly a dumb question. But just curious. And
not going boom sounds like a really good idea to me.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: ESA module help please

marine distributers are typically vented by way of a spark arresting screen in the body.
keeps vapors from building up inside the cap area and will disburse a flame in the event it happens anyway.
post a pic of the dist, that way we can all chime in a bit.

 

[lyn battles]

Re: ESA module help please

Ok I will thank you very much.

 

[lyn battles]

Re: ESA module help please

 

[lyn battles]

Re: ESA module help please

 

[bruceb58]

Re: ESA module help please

That is an automotive distributor.

 

[lyn battles]

Re: ESA module help please

Ok do I need to change out the distributer
or the cap what all will I need to upgrade to give the best performance and safety. Plus after the distributer is upgraded what do I need to do to
replace my ESA