Help I Am At My Wits End! 3.0l Omc Cobra

[gooders]

I Have A 1988 Omc 3.0l Cobra Ftted To My Four Winns Boat.last Season It Ran Fine.i Laid It Up For The Winter. Took Battery Off And Charged Accordingly.come To Start It Up No Joy! I Have Cleaned The Earth Points On The Block,the Points On The Starter And Solenoid Checked And Changed Fuel Filter,put New Fuel In,checked Pump Working Ok.cleaned All Electrical Contacts.still The Thing Will Not Fire .its Trying Alright Which Makes Me Think The Starters Ok , The Plugs Are New And Are Getting Fuel.checked Plugs And They Are Sparking Ok.i Am Just Waiting For A New Condenser And Points To Arrive.could That Be The Problem Or Am I Missing Something.please Can Anyone Help.

 

[Coors]

Re: Help I Am At My Wits End! 3.0l Omc Cobra

Do you have voltage at + on the coil? and how much? If 12v, then check points. If no 12 volts at coil, work backwards to the ignition switch.

 

[gooders]

Re: Help I Am At My Wits End! 3.0l Omc Cobra

Thanks Will Try That And Get Back To You.

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: Help I Am At My Wits End! 3.0l Omc Cobra

just take a piece of fine emery cloth - put in between your point contacts and pull up and out once - flip the emery over and do it again to clean the other contact- should get it going until the new point set comes.

 

[gooders]

Re: Help I Am At My Wits End! 3.0l Omc Cobra

I Did Try The Emery Paper Solution On The Points And It Did Improve Slightly But I Think They May Be Too Far Gone.anyway When I Get The Tune Up Kit I Will Replace Everything.will Let You Know How I Get On.
Thanks

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Help I Am At My Wits End! 3.0l Omc Cobra

Points are a pain..... take a look at a Pertronix II system.

It eliminates the points.

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: Help I Am At My Wits End! 3.0l Omc Cobra

ditto- Pertronix is nice - you'll also need to install a CDI/Rapair replacement ESA. The factory OMC Electronic Shift Assist module does not work with pertronix or any other non-points ignition.

 

[Coors]

Re: Help I Am At My Wits End! 3.0l Omc Cobra

Mallory has an on-line diagram for the esa work-around; parts at Radio Shack.

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: Help I Am At My Wits End! 3.0l Omc Cobra

you guys still have radio shacks? Ours have all become "The Source by Circuit City" and they seem to be gradually getting out of the bits and pieces business.....more money in cell phones and crap I guess.
Test the original ESA before making an adapter, the ESA's tend to only last about 20 yrs, and the Rapair/CDI is about 1/3 the price of an OMC unit.

 

[gooders]

Re: Help I Am At My Wits End! 3.0l Omc Cobra

Thanks everone for all your replies.Unfortunately when it cmes to boat engnes I am somewhat of a greenhorn.I do not want to pay extortionate marine engineer fees hence my do it yourself never say die way of thinking.I am still awaiting my contact set, should be here tommorow Howver me being the ' its not going to beat me type'I again spent the afternoon in the engine bayIhooked up a car battery to try and give it an extra boost. NO GO. What I did notice was that the negative battery post was very hot and the positive quite warm.Any ideas,is this a symptom? Anyway the voltmeter is showing just under 12 volts but the battery (been on charge for two days) still cannot bring her into life. I did otice a wire loose on what I believe to be the kill switch, thought that was the problem, raised hopes , dashed again! Any more ideas while waiting for contacts to arrive

 

[gooders]

Re: Help I Am At My Wits End! 3.0l Omc Cobra

Me again.Did some research on this Petronix thing.Looks the way to go.Unfortunately going o perervere with good old points for now.Will probably convert later in the season.However which Petroix unit would I need for my (currently high and dry!!) 1988 OMC 3.0L COBRA. Anyone?

 

[gooders]

Re: Help I Am At My Wits End! 3.0l Omc Cobra

Yep its me again! Spent another uncofortable hour with my head in the bowels of the engine bay.Made absolutely sure all earth points starter connections etc were clean. Starting to suspect battery may be problem.Argghhhh. Where are my points Mr Postman !

 

[Coors]

Re: Help I Am At My Wits End! 3.0l Omc Cobra

hot battery= bad connection somewhere.