motor still won't start

[krazylegs]

I had my brother take the boat to the mechanic and found out that the mechanic is out on vacation. So, the boat has landed back in my lap.

Here's the skinny (for those scoring at home)-

My boat turns over great, but I'm not getting any spark out of the coil into the distributor. I have replaced the cap, rotor, points, condenser (sp?) coil and ignition relay. I have had a multimeter go from the battery (12.5 volts) to the egnition relay to the coil to the distributor and everything looks good (12.5 volts) except there's no spark coming from the distributor.

I checked the gap on the points with the feeler gauge (.018 per manual)
I can't set the dwell because the engine won't start and I'm having a heck of a time tracking down a dwell meter
can't check the timing (see above)

Any suggestions? I'm going to go through the previous post and go through the steps again. Any help would be awesome! Thank you. Krazy

 

[Maclin]

Re: motor still won't start

Dwell can be checked with just the engine turning over.

Have you measured the voltage at the coil positive terminal while cranking?

 

[krazylegs]

Re: motor still won't start

I believe that we are getting a reading at the coil. But, my question is this- if the dwell was badly off (and I don't expect that it is due to the performance of the engine) could the dwell by itself determine if I'm not getting any spark at all? I will also get back to you with the reading off the coil.

 

[dennis461]

Re: motor still won't start

I believe that we are getting a reading at the coil. But, my question is this- if the dwell was badly off (and I don't expect that it is due to the performance of the engine) could the dwell by itself determine if I'm not getting any spark at all? I will also get back to you with the reading off the coil.

I'll try and help...
First you say the boat won't start.
Then you say, ...I don't expect the dwell to be off due to the performance of the engine...

So, is the engine running at all?
If you set the point gap when the distributor cam lobe was on a low spot, then the points might never close.
Never closing means no spark.

How about some more background...
Was it running great before someone gave it a tune up?
:facepalm:

 

[krazylegs]

Re: motor still won't start

Sorry about that- before we gave it the tune up, and when the boat decided to run- it rans really well outside of overheating (That's a different post, later). It had very quick throttle response, it doesn't miss and it always idled fine.

Over time, it has become harder to start, that's when we decided to go the tune up route. Now, it won't start at all.
it's an AQ 190 (ford 302 with Volvo 270 outdrive)

 

[keith2k455]

Re: motor still won't start

It may be the distributor...if you are sure everything before the distributor is OK, but nothing after it is, then it may be the distributor. I would test that, it could also be the source of your running hot.

 

[krazylegs]

Re: motor still won't start

Thanks for your help Keith. I don't know how they check distributors but I'll look into it.

 

[dennis461]

Re: motor still won't start

ok,
Simple stuff, (Easy for me to say.)

1. Plug wires go back on the same plugs?
2. Did you forget to put the rotor in (been there, done that).
3. spark plugs gapped correctly?
4. Is the small wire inside the distributer accidently touching some metal.
5. What country/state are you in?

 

[keith2k455]

Re: motor still won't start

I did a little search, but unfortunately wasn't able to fine any instructions on how to test the distributor itself. I think the main thing is the wire and capacitor that power the points is what you check. After checking to make sure the cap is on right, rotor on correct, firing order correct, plug 1 fires when piston 1 is at TDC, you may be able to check the distributor through a continuity check or voltage drop check. Sorry I can't steer you any better...nothing I own anymore has a distributor so I can't go and look to refresh my memory....

Good luck!

 

[krazylegs]

Re: motor still won't start

ok,
Simple stuff, (Easy for me to say.)

1. Plug wires go back on the same plugs?
2. Did you forget to put the rotor in (been there, done that).
3. spark plugs gapped correctly?
4. Is the small wire inside the distributer accidently touching some metal.
5. What country/state are you in?

Dennis, we have checked the first 4 suggestions already. I live in California

 

[keith2k455]

Re: motor still won't start

Here's one extra remedial question...have you checked to make sure your distributor is set at TDC and not 180 out?

 

[krazylegs]

Re: motor still won't start

Keith, I'm not sure what TDC or 180 is. Having said that, I'll do some research and find out. Thanks for all your help. Krazy-

 

[Fishin Magician]

Re: motor still won't start

I just went through this same scenerio with a small outboard.....4.5 hp merc....
went from running fine to not starting .....all breaker point magneto ignition systems components changed out if determined bad...and there is only a few parts..anyway...after all that.. no spank to the spark...
I'm bummin now..
after checking every connection over and over and multi metering this and that ...I was getting know where..
there was one wire that happen to be the points wire insulator HV wire..where I changed out the points and quickly returned to positon..and didn't look at the other side of insulator..and kept overlooking it while checking connections...etc
turns out that 500 ohms of resistance was from that insulator..no spank to the spark..it was a hv wire that looked fine'..

what I guess I'm saying is ..it was a rusted corroded wire insulator easily overlooked.....going to my points..

hope my yammer'in helps

FM

 

[mybadford]

Re: motor still won't start

I put a new set of points in my boat the other day and it wouldn't start either. The condenser was barely touching the high spots on the cam inside of the distributor. I tweaked the hold down bracket for the condenser and it started right up. after that.

 

[Maclin]

Re: motor still won't start

"...tweaked the hold down bracket ..."

That may have been a grounding issue, and tightening it made a better connection to ground, could also be a factor here for krazylegs.

Also a good idea to make sure none of the terminal connections are touching any other metal part except the terminal block, unintentional grounding as it were.

 

[keith2k455]

Re: motor still won't start

Tdc is when the points are actuated and#1cyl as at the top of its stroke with the valves closed . Points can be mysterious but if you follow the wires thru the circuit check tdc check point gap all wire connections including plug wires you should find it

 

[krazylegs]

Re: motor still won't start

HOUSTON, we don't have a problem anymore. I took the boat to a mechanic and he had it fixed and running within 5 min. My brother had put the points in wrong. I would like to thank everyone for the time helping me with this issue. Now, I'm off to find some water! Krazylegs

 

[dennis461]

Re: motor still won't start

WHoo-hoo