No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 1150, 1

[brianmerc]

So my boat wouldn't start and I decided to take my boat to the mechanic to have a Pro look at it. He said the compression was good, but the engine has no spark, then went on to explain what spark was and that the Electric Distributor Body or Trigger is bad and needs to be replaced. He said it's an electrical problem. Does anyone know what this is? I'm clueless to repairing engines.<br /><br />The mechanic said the part alone is $412 and is difficult to install, so the labor will be $400! Does anyone know if it's truely hard to replace yourself? I have the engine manual, so I was thinking of looking up the part in the book. Does this estimate sound about right? Anyone else had a similar problem with this part or engine? <br /><br />I'm a new boater and have only had this boat out 3 times in the last 2 years. Any opinions, tips, suggestions or help is much appreciated! Thanks in advance!<br /><br />Brian

 

[timmathis]

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

I have a 1975 1500 150H.P. I found a used one for $100 (Just the trigger not the whole distributor)And it cost $100 to have it instaled here in S.C. Iboats dont carry the trigger. Merc does about $350. You can go to WWW.OLDMERCS.com They carry a rebuilt one for about $200. or check ebay. $800.00 Is a little to high for my blood! But I know in CA. It cost to play. Around here for a couple more $100 you can get a good used motor of that size! Tim

 

[ReeseK]

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

I have a 115 1976 that I am forced to part out. If you determine that is for sure the part you need I could get you it even the whole distributer if need be. let me know. I am not sure if I am supposed to do this or not I don't want to seem like I am soliciting. If you look at my post you will see the life of this engine. If I am not supposed to do this please let me know thanks if you want I can give you my e-mail address.

 

[papasmurf]

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

Part # 393-3736a23 distributer body list at $381.45 from Mercury Marine. CDI,an aftermarket company, list it for $300.00. Shouldn't take more than 3 hours total to change out, that would include diagnostic and setting timing. Not sure what the labor rate is in Pasadena, but $400.00 sounds high. I would make sure his diagnosis is correct before spending that amount of money for the Trigger/Distributer.

 

[brianmerc]

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

Thanks for the info everyone.<br /><br />Anhyone have a picture of what this looks like?<br /><br />I have my engine manual and found the "Distrubutor Housing with Built-In Trigger" section. I just want to know if I'm looking at the right thing.<br /><br />I'm not sure if I would be able to change this out my self. I'm not a mechnic type, but I did rebuild the fuel pump a couple years ago myself.<br /><br />Setting the timing and diagnostics sounds hard. Is this difficult? Labor here in LA is $85/hr.

 

[timmathis]

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

The trigger is a molded part of the distributor body. You need to know what you are doing to replace. It is not a simple job. If you have not seen it done, you dont want to do it yourself.<br />It is not a simple job to the untrained eye. If you had the whole distributor it would be much simpler and less costly on labor. About 1 Hr less time. But if you buy the whole thing new it would cost more.<br />I would email ReeseK and see what kind of deal he will give you on his. Tim<br /> P.S. Seting the timing is not hard at all. But changing the distributor is not a piece of cake like a fuel pump!

 

[Clams Canino]

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

You can get a working distributor on Ebay (usually) for under $200. Easier to change the whole distributor than just the body/trigger.<br /><br />-W

 

[brianmerc]

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

Wow, now Im thinking I just wanna sell the boat. How much do you think I can get for it unrepaired? How about if I repair it?

 

[timmathis]

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

That is hard to say! Sometimes you cant give a broke boat away. An old one that is. You have not said what year, make, model boat you have. But I would bet that you can fix it a whole lot cheaper than you will buy one. Tim<br /><br />P.S. Iboats does not carry the part you need. so if you want send me your email address. and I think I can get you A whole distributor for about $200.00 with a warranty. You with iboats support may can install it yourself.<br /> Mathis1011@bellsouth.net

 

[ReeseK]

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

I would sell the whole distributer for $100 and ship to you if you want reese_king@hotmail.com I looked at the procedure for replacing the distributer it looks fairly easy, then doing a link and sync would be necessary. use the procedure found here I think posted by clams, vs. the book his is easier and results are the same. don't sell yourself short if you have any mechanical ability you should be able to change the whole distibuter yourself. Or for a case of beer maybe you have a buddy who is good mechanicaly inclined and would be willing to help you.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

Originally posted by brianmerc:<br /> Wow, now Im thinking I just wanna sell the boat. How much do you think I can get for it unrepaired? How about if I repair it?

ill pay ya 100 bucks, and you pay shipping

 

[timmathis]

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

There you go $100.00 You cant beat that. ReeseK Is giving you a deal you cant refuse. Better get it quick. That will sell fast. Tim

 

[brianmerc]

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

The boat is a 1976 Cheetah w/ Mercury 1150 115hp, V6 engine. What makes me mad is that the boat was running fine all last summer, then I go out to fire it up one day during this past winter and it doesn't start! It's a shame that the boat isn't worth anything unless it's fixed. Another bad thing is, even if I get it fixed, there's a small crack in the transom that woundn't make a good selling point either... I'm so screwed.<br /><br />Either way, here's some pics from it's glory days taken about a year ago or so. Yes, the seats are hot pink, purple and black. They're practically brand new, only about 5 yrs old. The boat itself is black with metallic purple/pink racing stripes. It's so rock n' roll!!<br /><br />

<br />

<br />

<br />And finally, back when she was running!!<br />

 

[timmathis]

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

That's not a V6 That is a Inline6. A little work and you will back on the water in no time at all.<br />Get that distributor in it if you have a problem just give us a post and we will be glad to help you. Tim

 

[brianmerc]

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

Oh, inline6 and V6 are not the same thing? See, that goes to show you how much I know about these engines. So you think it's work fixing? Even with a crack in the transom?<br /><br />brianmerc

 

[Clams Canino]

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

The boat is worth more if the girl comes with it.<br /><br /> <br /><br />-W

 

[brianmerc]

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

Originally posted by Clams Canino:<br /> The boat is worth more if the girl comes with it.<br /><br /> <br /><br />-W

I knew someone was going to say that.<br /><br />I got the boat back from the mechanic today and he showed me exactly what wasn't working. I'll post up a diagram as soon as I scan it in.

 

[timmathis]

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

Now Now calm down Wayne. <br />My wife cought me looking at his boat. Boy I'm the dog house about that!! She still don't belive that I like'd his seats. Tim

 

[79 Silverline]

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

Re: No Spark! Bad Electric Distributor Body? $800 to Repair!?!?! - 1976 Merc 115

Hey, I just did the trigger myself on my 79 I6 90 HP. I was jumping up and down and panicking when I started checking out parts and prices, but it's not too bad. WWW.Vintageoutboard.com has the trigger for 250 bucks, you can replace the trigger in a couple hours. Check out my thread to give yourself an idea. You will need a tool to pull your flywheel, which is 50 bucks as well, so say 300 total. I highly recommend doing it yourself, since 800 bucks is a really big expense.<br /><br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=29;t=018888#000000