External Ballast Resistor

[ChittyBangz5.0VIP]

Hey I was wondering if anyone could help me I have a 1989 5.0 Cobra I had problems starting it the end of last year then nothing I bridged the ballast resistor straight to the distributer its runs great then put on a new ballast resistor worked for one weekend then nothing bought another ballast and that would not work from the get go jumped the ballast starts on a dime runs great I also changed the ignition switch still won't go thru ballast I can't keep running this thing without that ballast anybody know what my problem could be got 12 volts to the coil its only 2 years old I'm think the ignition wire is takin a dump any advise guys? This boat sank halfway in the boat slip during a storm 2 years ago marina replaced all electrical and flushed engine only thing that was not replaced where guages and ignition switch and the Ignition wire Thanks Guys

 

[cr2k]

Re: External Ballast Resistor

Confirming you replaced the starter?


I would guess you either got the wrong solenoid (the proper one has an I and S on the small terminals).

 

[ChittyBangz5.0VIP]

Re: External Ballast Resistor

Whats soleniod do you mean are you saying I may have the wrong starter or the wires from the starter are on wrong or are you talking about the coil I'm a weekend mechanic so I admit I don't understand all terms thanks for you help I really appreciate it I gotta solve this problem

 

[bruceb58]

Re: External Ballast Resistor

Could be that you have a voltage drop somewhere and you are compensating for it by bypassing the resistor. With the points closed, what is the voltage reading at both sides of the resisitor?

Check out this thread. I was helping someone with a similar issue:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=341768


And what is it with all of thes ballast resistor questions? This the third thread i have commented on concerning these in 2 days!

 

[Fred Mauck]

Re: External Ballast Resistor

OMC uses a resistor wire from the alternator to the coil. Take the purple wire off the alternator and the red/purple off the coil. Measure resistance, should be about 2 ohms. The boat shop may have rewired without resistor wire. Only then would you need a ballast resistor. Second, check your point settings. This is critical on a V8. Must be 29 degress +/- 2. The rubbing block on the point set, wears reducing gap to the point of difficult starts.