Ignition Wiring, 1987 Force 50

[cpbrocke]

Just got my first boat, '79 Cobia Bowrider and it needed a little love. I have given it a lot of love and I am finally stuck. I had to replace the switches to the lights and the bilge pump (bilge pump too) because they were shot. The engine has an ignition problem too. So I figured that I would replace the old ignition with a new one. I am pretty sure that I did this correctly but the starter still wont run when I turn the key, choke will click though. The funny part was that I looked for the source of the problem all day one day and could not get it to start, unless I hot wired it on the back lug of the starter relay. It won't run the starter if I put the cable to the front lug where the battery cable comes in (Is that suppose to work that way?). This is on a 87 Force 50hp model C. And the next day I went out and it cranked right away. So I took it to the ramp and nothing. Jiggled the ignition and the battery connections and then it would turn the starter. Turned it off and then tried it again, nothing. Jiggled the ignition and battery again, but it didn't work this time. So I have no way of telling if I wired the new ignition correctly. Is this correct?

On the ignition we have:
B - Battery - Red
C - Choke - Green
I - Ignition - ?
M - Magneto - ?
S - Start - Yellow
M - Magneto - ?

I have a white magneto and a blue magneto and a black ground that I am unsure of which goes where. I hooked the ground to one magneto (as per instructions on the package), the white magento to the other magneto and the blue magneto wire to the ignition.
M - Black
M - Blue
I - White (Manual says this is the ignition side and the blue is the ground side)

I was pretty sure this would fix the problem if this is correct, but the problem still persists. The only thing between the Battery and the Starter are the wires and the starter relay. I know that everything else works such as neutral interlock because it did start a couple times with the key. Any suggestions on what to try next to get to the bottom of this? Could the starter relay be shot? Where should I measure voltage and with the key in which position to check if the relay is bad?

Thanks.

 

[sdunt]

Re: Ignition Wiring, 1987 Force 50

Your wiggling of battery cables, etc makes me think you have bad connections at the battery. How clean are the battery terminals? How clean are the cables going to the motor? All connections are shiny bright metal?

To check the relay, when you are holding the key in the start position there should be 12 volts at the small terminal on the relay. The relay is there to switch the connection from the battery straight to the starter motor.

I attached the wiring diagram from a 1973 manual, sorry I run the OLD motors. Things haven't changed that much I don't think since then..

 

[cpbrocke]

Re: Ignition Wiring, 1987 Force 50

Cables are all good, terminals are good. I might as well replace them anyways though. I ran a 12V supply to the small terminal on the relay with the key in the on position, which i believe should crank the engine and nothing happened.

 

[sdunt]

Re: Ignition Wiring, 1987 Force 50

There is also a circuit breaker in the line to the relay, if it is open then the relay won't get power. If the circuit breaker opens its possible that the relay is drawing too much current..

 

[cpbrocke]

Re: Ignition Wiring, 1987 Force 50

well, traced it to the solenoid, it is shot. I am going to look around town for a new one. When I was setting up my ignition, i put the white mag wire where the blue one is suppose to go and the blue one in the white position. DONT DO THIS TO YOUR ENGINE. Smoke starting coming out from by the engine and it smelled like an electrical fire. Turned key to off and switched those two wires and no smoke. Then I was setting my throttle cables and shifter and threw off the timing so now I have to post a new thread for that. Have to get a new solenoid first so that I can crank it to adjust the timing.....

BOAT = Bring On Another Thousand

 

[sdunt]

Re: Ignition Wiring, 1987 Force 50

Depending on where you live you can get Sierra Marine parts at a NAPA store. The store may not realize it but they can order anything out of the Sierra Catalog.

Here is the page with the Force Starter Solenoids on it: http://ww2.sierramarine.com/catalog_pdf_8024/Sierra_8024-128.pdf

 

[cpbrocke]

Re: Ignition Wiring, 1987 Force 50

I replaced the solenoid thinking that would fix it and still nothing when I turn the key. I also lost spark to my plugs now after messing with the ignition wiring and getting some smoke in attempts to get the starter to turn with the key. Any ideas on what could have been burned out by crossing the magneto wires on the ignition so that I don't get any spark anymore?

 

[cpbrocke]

Re: Ignition Wiring, 1987 Force 50

Forgot to put nylon washer between red wire to starter and starter itself, it was grounding out without engaging the starter. So the starter spins and I have compression and fuel. I am not getting any spark. I disconnected the white and blue wires for the mags at the ignition and engine will not fire. Anybody with a 1987 Force 50hp model C with prestolite ignition have any suggestions as to what might be keeping my plugs from getting spark???