Timing and Dwell or rather Dwell then Timing

[Sparkscw]

89 2.3L OMC
Finally got the exhaust manifold back and installed (really sweating that one).
Got the motor started and let it warm up to temp and then decided to check the Dwell and Timing.
Maybe its just me, but what a PITA. I would get the dwell set and then check timing (as per manual) and the dwell would move. So go back and set the dwell again, round and round I went.
Although to get the dwell set to 34-38 degrees the motor wouldn't run, so I set it at 30 degrees and then the timing (should be 10 degree) ran like poo. Set that by ear to 12 degrees and she sounded better, but the dwell is now off again.
What am I missing or doing wrong?
Should I just go with an aftermarket ignition like this Pertronix Ignitor II and be done with the pionts before I ever get started with them?
http://www.shopatron.com/product/part_number=91241/591.0.26484.26486.0.0.0
Hey the good news is SHE IS ALIVE..
So my problem was simple really... I was looking at the wrong spec for the points gap and trying to set it at .035 (which just happens to be the gap for the plugs), when I really needed to be setting it at .019 for my 2.3L.
After I got that all ironed out and fiddled with the timing some she is running like a top. What a friggin bone head I am sometimes.
Took her out for a couple hours and gave her a good shake down (mind you I have only had the boat for 2 weeks) and everything was grand.
Thanks for all the replies and help.

David

 

[rbh]

Re: Timing and Dwell or rather Dwell then Timing

I know I have not done points on a motor with more than two cylinders for a while BUT, when the points are open to the furthest point, is that not were you set them?
on old bombardier engines we used a light?, due to duration
rob

 

[Sparkscw]

Re: Timing and Dwell or rather Dwell then Timing

I know I have not done points on a motor with more than two cylinders for a while BUT, when the points are open to the furthest point, is that not were you set them?
on old bombardier engines we used a light?, due to duration
rob

Yea pretty much... I have set them with feelers at .035 and then put a dwell meter on to fine tune. Problem is the dwell meter is 34-38 degrees and to reach this point on my meter I am closing the points down to the point where the engine will not run.

David

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Timing and Dwell or rather Dwell then Timing

"Dwell" is the number of degrees the points remain closed to charge the coil.
Point gap is set between .018-.022 on the high side of a lobe.
http://www.marinemechanic.com/site/page106.html

 

[captmello]

Re: Timing and Dwell or rather Dwell then Timing

the timing does not affect the dwell. I thought 4 bangers had a dwell in the 60s not 30s. V8s are in the 30s.

I would also set the timing to 10 deg to start off.

Good Luck.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Timing and Dwell or rather Dwell then Timing

Something is not right here. When I did mine I had to set the idle before the timing because of mechanical advance issues. I Don't know what that would have to do dwell however. I just have a feeling that is the motor is running poorly that the idle has been raised to prevent stalling.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Timing and Dwell or rather Dwell then Timing

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/13/13B4R2.PDF
This is for points,ddis,est

 

[captmello]

Re: Timing and Dwell or rather Dwell then Timing

the timing does not affect the dwell. I thought 4 bangers had a dwell in the 60s not 30s. V8s are in the 30s.

I would also set the timing to 10 deg to start off.

Good Luck.

Dwell angle of 34-38 is correct. Sorry to speculate.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Timing and Dwell or rather Dwell then Timing

If your dwell is changing that much it is possible your distributor is worn. Check your dwell at various RPMs. It should not be changing very much at all.