Odd points system on a 1946 Firestone 3.6 hp outboard

[jwcole04]

I got about a dozen non running small outboards from my marine mechanic a few years ago and was able to get most of them running. They all produced spark however so I never had to deal with electrical issues.

I was given a Firestone (Scott-Atwater) outboard motor Code no 133-6-1065 Stock no 10-A-111 3.6 hp - I think it's a 1946. No spark.

My understanding of points is that they stay in contact until the camshaft forces them apart at TDC producing spark. This points system does exactly the opposite (see pics and zoom in). These points stay apart until the lever hits the relatively short flat part of the cam and they close.

Can anyone explain this to me?

Thanks!

 

[racerone]

Is the cam up side down?

 

[jwcole04]

Thanks for the response racerone. I tried turning the cam upside down but it has a tapered woodruf key type thing that only allows it to only go on one way. If you could turn it upside down it changes nothing. There is still the relatively short flat section with the rest being round, holding the points open.

 

[Chris1956]

I think there were other points systems like that. Maybe old Mercury's? The question is "Does it work"? I presume it does not need a condenser.

Also, the Johnnyrude V4 battery and magneto distributor motors had one coil, one condenser and 2 sets of points. The cam lobe was set up to open one set of points early and then open the second set of points when the cylinder was to fire. The points alternated which one opened first.