bh2002
06-17-2010, 10:10 AM
I have run into some electrical problems that I can't guite figure out. I am not extremely mechanical, but usually have learned how to combat problems with the help of mechanical friends. I haven't ran into a problem like this before so I might not explain everything in the correct terms, but I need some help. I've had some guys help me that are real handy with car engines; however, I know that it is much different with marine electrical work. If somebody can lead me down the right path I would appreciate it so I don't start throwing money away into areas that aren't the problems.
To start out I have a 1978 MC SS 351W Prestolite distributor
I started out with what I thought was a bad ballast resistor. I wired around the old worn out resistor by wiring the low voltage wire to the coil to the 12v wire to the resistor. I started the boat and ran it on the trailer trying to see if she ran smooth because last some she missed a little at about 25 mph. She ran fine as far as i could tell. I let it run for about 15 minutes. I shut her down and restarted just to make sure she would still start. I then went out and got a new resistor from the local part store. I don't think it is marine specific because the resistor wire is in a ceramic housing with the back open (not completely sealed off); however, it looked the same as the one I took off with the exception of the mounting bracket. I put the resistor on and I haven't been able to get any fire to my plugs since. I was aware that i could have burned up my points from running without a resistor; however, the wire from the coil to distributor cap was jumping a pretty good spark. Which made me think my points were OK. I took the old points and condenser off and sure enough the points were pitted in one area. I replaced them with marine specific points that looked just like the old ones. The condenser I got looked a little different with a wire from the canister instead of a metal band like the old one. I thought that would surely work and I'm still not getting fire. In fact the points look a little toasted after I cranked on it a few times. I had a friend bring a volt meter over last night and we checked a few spots. It looks like the wire from the resistor to the positive terminal is getting 12v when the key is in the run position and about 6v when it is in the start position. I feel like i'm not getting enough power to my coil... Is this right? There is one wire to the positive terminal on the coil from the resistor and two wires to the negative terminal on the coil (one to the points and another I'm assuming is a ground wire).
I feel like my small resistor problem has turned into many problems. I'm very confused at this point. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
To start out I have a 1978 MC SS 351W Prestolite distributor
I started out with what I thought was a bad ballast resistor. I wired around the old worn out resistor by wiring the low voltage wire to the coil to the 12v wire to the resistor. I started the boat and ran it on the trailer trying to see if she ran smooth because last some she missed a little at about 25 mph. She ran fine as far as i could tell. I let it run for about 15 minutes. I shut her down and restarted just to make sure she would still start. I then went out and got a new resistor from the local part store. I don't think it is marine specific because the resistor wire is in a ceramic housing with the back open (not completely sealed off); however, it looked the same as the one I took off with the exception of the mounting bracket. I put the resistor on and I haven't been able to get any fire to my plugs since. I was aware that i could have burned up my points from running without a resistor; however, the wire from the coil to distributor cap was jumping a pretty good spark. Which made me think my points were OK. I took the old points and condenser off and sure enough the points were pitted in one area. I replaced them with marine specific points that looked just like the old ones. The condenser I got looked a little different with a wire from the canister instead of a metal band like the old one. I thought that would surely work and I'm still not getting fire. In fact the points look a little toasted after I cranked on it a few times. I had a friend bring a volt meter over last night and we checked a few spots. It looks like the wire from the resistor to the positive terminal is getting 12v when the key is in the run position and about 6v when it is in the start position. I feel like i'm not getting enough power to my coil... Is this right? There is one wire to the positive terminal on the coil from the resistor and two wires to the negative terminal on the coil (one to the points and another I'm assuming is a ground wire).
I feel like my small resistor problem has turned into many problems. I'm very confused at this point. Any help will be greatly appreciated.