OMC aftermarket distributor replacement

[navycowboy44]

I want to replace my points distributor with an aftermarket regular distributor and coil. Anyone know any good companies that make them? The boat is a 1977 Reinell with an OMC 165 engine.

 

[Bondo]

Re: OMC aftermarket distributor replacement

I want to replace my points distributor with an aftermarket regular distributor and coil. Anyone know any good companies that make them? The boat is a 1977 Reinell with an OMC 165 engine.

Ayuh,... Is that the I-6 Chevy motor,..??

 

[navycowboy44]

Re: OMC aftermarket distributor replacement

Thats affirmative shipmate. I was looking at this company called Hot Spark. Anyone know if theyre still in buisness? Heres the website. http://www.hot-spark.com/1-Hot-Spark-Marine-Engine-Electronic-Ignition.htm

 

[sam60]

Re: OMC aftermarket distributor replacement

Anyone know if theyre still in buisness?

If not, it sure is nice of them to keep the website up.

EDIT: I would shy away from a site that does not have a "contact" or "about us" link....how do you know who you are dealing with?

 

[navycowboy44]

Re: OMC aftermarket distributor replacement

I was thinking the same thing. I have found them post stuff on ebay though too. i would like to call and actually talk to someone though

 

[sam60]

Re: OMC aftermarket distributor replacement

Yeah, call them and qualify them.

 

[navycowboy44]

Re: OMC aftermarket distributor replacement

I guess ill be the guinea pig on this one. Looks like they use paypal for payments so if anything ill get my money back.

 

[sam60]

Re: OMC aftermarket distributor replacement

Ya might want to wait a bit and see what others have to say before you leap into that one....

 

[79Rude115]

Re: OMC aftermarket distributor replacement

Has anyone tried them out? It is certainly the best price I have seen on a solid state conversion kit. One more question, does this kit require the diodes to make the ESA work?

 

[navycowboy44]

Re: OMC aftermarket distributor replacement

I ended up buying the Hot Spark and it is awesome. They use PayPal so the security issue with the payment isnt a problem even though there isnt a phone number listed. 79Rude115 i have no clue what youre talking about with diodes and ESA. Maybe i can dig up the instructions and i think i saw a phone number in there and ill post it so you can call them

 

[79Rude115]

Re: OMC aftermarket distributor replacement

I ended up buying the Hot Spark and it is awesome. They use PayPal so the security issue with the payment isnt a problem even though there isnt a phone number listed. 79Rude115 i have no clue what youre talking about with diodes and ESA. Maybe i can dig up the instructions and i think i saw a phone number in there and ill post it so you can call them

I read somewhere about these electronic conversion kits not playing well with the cobra ESA. I replaced my ESA last year, mine is the 90 model, not sure if I would need to put diodes in to make the ESA work.

 

[zag123]

Re: OMC aftermarket distributor replacement

I have a pre-ESA sterndrive, though Pertronix does have a good electronic conversion kit, depending on the distrodutor type. They offer methods to ensure proper operation of your ESA. I went through Summit Racing to get my kit.

 

[79Rude115]

Re: OMC aftermarket distributor replacement

I checked with Hot Spark directly and they confirmed the diodes are necessary and provided a link to the schematic.

http://www.hot-spark.com/OMC-Shift-Assist-Adapter.jpg

Could someone who has done the ESA adapter chime in? I find the diagram a little confusing...I read it as

1) Clip the grey wire going to the ESA (assume this is the one alongside the purple wire?)...Cant really tell where the grey wire goes other than to the plug which could subsequently go to the coil negative.
2) Install 2 400v 3A diodes in series on the grey wire between the grey/purple plug? and the ESA or between coil negative and grey wire?
3) Splice the grey wire on the ESA between the diodes and the ESA into a wire going to engine ground (where did you ground it?) with 2 4.7k .5 watt resisters in parrallel between ground and grey wire?

 

[79Rude115]

Re: OMC aftermarket distributor replacement

Can someone clarify how to wire the electronic conversion into the ESA?

 

[Bakeshow]

Re: OMC aftermarket distributor replacement

Being an electrician. I would say you have it right. It is important that the bands on the diodes are in the right direction.
Resistors are not polarity sensitive.
It wouldn't hurt to have an ohm meter to trace the grey wire through.
It shouldn't matter where you cut the wire as long as the diodes are are hooked up to the side witch leads to the coil.
I have not done this yet but want to. I would solder the diodes and resistors together first then just make one cut anywhere in the grey wire to install.

 

[79Rude115]

Re: OMC aftermarket distributor replacement

Thanks, I have the parts on order and will start the project in a week or so. In terms of finding a suitable ground any tips there? Should I just run a line directly to the negative pole on the battery?

 

[79Rude115]

Re: OMC aftermarket distributor replacement

Got it in, got it running and got the timing set!! Here is the bad part...my stock coil does not show to have enough resistance, so I am trying to find something local with at least 1.5 ohms of primary resistance. None of the coils specify how much resistance they have...I want to go boating this weekend...any suggestion on where I could get a coil with the right specs? Would a standard automotive coil for a 350 V8 meet this specs?

 

[79Rude115]

Re: OMC aftermarket distributor replacement

Can someone help with what coil I should use?