Re: Mercury distributor fired ignition versus powerpack ignition "HELP"
They ALL work, some the parts are more readily available then others. All ignition parts are costly. Distributor parts are getting harder to get.
If I had the choice, the later years with two ignition modules, CDI makes everything except the flywheel. No problem getting good ignition parts when required.
Re: Mercury distributor fired ignition versus powerpack ignition "HELP"
Stik, The six coil ADI ignition is standard and still used on new outboards. No one still uses distributors on outboards. I recommend you go with the ADI, if you have a choice.
Re: Mercury distributor fired ignition versus powerpack ignition "HELP"
Having had both, CD is electronic and hence zero wear. Distributor had points to change periodically and a drive belt, and didn't put out the fast high voltage the modern CD ignition did in later years.
Having had both, CD is electronic and hence zero wear. Distributor had points to change periodically and a drive belt, and didn't put out the fast high voltage the modern CD ignition did in later years.
Hey Mark, I have only one non distributer, (my Son's engine), the rest are all distributer towers. Due to my familiarity with the old girls I favor the distributor fired ones. The points fired only the pre 1967 models, (I agree with you those were a pain as the points were supposed to be set every 100 hours, and there was a battery discharge issue with the early Thunderbolt ignitions, (pre 1967 on the largest pre 1968 on the smaller engines), that made them problematic, (IMHO). After 1968 they were sparked by an electric "trigger" in the distributor that never needed to be set. All of mine have been very reliable, a 1976 1500 I had to rebuild, (the only inline6 I ever went to that trouble needed a new trigger as it lost spark), all the rest of my towers ran for many many hours without any problems at all. It maybe irrational fear of the unknown with my son's 1981 115 (with the two switchboxes and the six coils) which runs fine so far, but I have read many threads here about problems with the electronics on the six coil engines and they are expensive to fix. JR
