Please Help!! 1972 85HP Chrysler Ignition -- CD module or distributor?

[turtle1173]

Hi Everyone,<br /><br /> I am very frustrated right now. I bought the above motor, model #: 857HD. When I tried to start it, I got nothing (no spark). I went ahead and bought another CD unit (got a good deal on it). The motor had been sitting indoors for 10 years, so I figured something like this would be the case. I just installed the CD unit which was sold to me by a marina and said to be in good working order.<br /><br /> OK, here's what I'm doing so please tell me if I am in error. I don't have all the fuel lines hooked up yet but I have clean carbs. To try and get it just to start, I'm injecting premix directly into the carb throats. Question: Do the fuel bowls have to be full for this to work?? Because they are not.<br /><br /> I've got a spark tester. The kind where you connect a spark plug lead to it and clip it to the powerhead. Then you can adjust the distance the spark should jump. Anyway, no visible spark on all 3 cylinders.<br /><br /> I got my trusty $10 voltmeter out and I am getting 12 volts to the blue ignition wire that goes to the CD module with the key on.<br /><br /> My manual talks about testing the voltage at the distributor, so I tried that. This motor has points so there is only one external lead on the distributor. With the wire connected to the distributor, I'm getting 12 volts but I think the manual says to have it disconnected. Now the manual says to rock the pulley and I should get 12 volts when the points make contact (or something like that). That would be with the wire disconnected. Anyway, when I rock the pulley (or turn the flywheel any number of directions) I get nothing. Does this mean it is a distributor problem?<br /><br /> Sorry for the long post but can someone please help me to get this baby running!!<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Shane

 

[outboardjake]

Re: Please Help!! 1972 85HP Chrysler Ignition -- CD module or distributor?

Pull the coil wire out of the coil and put the spark tester in the coil. Remove the single wire from the distributor. Turn the key on and touch the wire on and off ground. If you have spark it is in the dist. (points) If not it is something else.

 

[turtle1173]

Re: Please Help!! 1972 85HP Chrysler Ignition -- CD module or distributor?

OutboardJake,<br /><br /> Please excuse my ignorance but my experience is limited and I am having difficulty following what you said.<br /><br /> OK, I remove the distributor wire from the coil. Got it. How do I take the wire out of the distributor apart from taking the distributor apart?<br /><br /> Do I stick the part in the coil that the spark plug wire normally goes on? Then you are saying to connect the distributor wire (that I remove) to ground and tough the spark tester with the key on?? Is that right?<br /><br />Sorry for the confusion.<br /><br />Shane

 

[outboardjake]

Re: Please Help!! 1972 85HP Chrysler Ignition -- CD module or distributor?

Sorry.<br />1. Remove secondary wire(Spark plug wire size) from the coil. Put spark tester lead in the coil.<br /><br />2.Remove primary wire(small wire) from dist. The one with the nut holding it on.<br /><br />3.Turn key on<br /><br />4.Touch the wire(small wire from dist.) to and from ground.<br /><br />I'm not very good at explaining things sometimes, give me an email if you need more.

 

[turtle1173]

Re: Please Help!! 1972 85HP Chrysler Ignition -- CD module or distributor?

OutboardJake,<br /><br /> OK, I found out that the plug wire just pulls out of the distributor. I removed the wire (from dist. and from coil). Shoved the spark tester into the coil. Turned ignition on. I then put one end of the wire on the tester and tried several different ground spots. I got one strong blast of spark for a second but I couldn't get it to do this again. I tried and tried but no more spark.<br /><br /> So you are saying that it is probably not the distributor then (unless I did something wrong)? Any other suggestions?<br /><br />Shane

 

[outboardjake]

Re: Please Help!! 1972 85HP Chrysler Ignition -- CD module or distributor?

email me

 

[turtle1173]

Re: Please Help!! 1972 85HP Chrysler Ignition -- CD module or distributor?

OK, I see that you meant to take the one small wire that connects from the module to the distributor and hit that one to the spark tester. Is that correct?<br /> <br /> You said "Touch the wire(small wire from dist.) to and from ground." Is this the one that goes from the module to the dist. that you are talking about? Or do you mean one of the other wires that go from the dist. to the coil?<br /><br />Shane<br /><br />Shane

 

[turtle1173]

Re: Please Help!! 1972 85HP Chrysler Ignition -- CD module or distributor?

Success!! OK, I put the spark tester in the coil, put the coil wire to the spark tester ground clip, then grounded the one wire that goes to the distributor. I got spark this way every time.<br /><br /> Is this the way you were telling me? If so, then it is the distributor, correct?<br /><br />Shane

 

[outboardjake]

Re: Please Help!! 1972 85HP Chrysler Ignition -- CD module or distributor?

The one that goes to the points in the dist. <br /><br />By touching the wire to ground you are just taking the place of the points.

 

[turtle1173]

Re: Please Help!! 1972 85HP Chrysler Ignition -- CD module or distributor?

Hi everyone,<br /><br /> It seems that you all have helped me get this narrowed down to the distributor. I have been at this all day (cleaning, adjusting, swapping parts) and I still can't get any spark to the plugs.<br /><br /> I've tried a couple different sets of points. I've lightly sanded the points to make them shiny. I've checked continuity in all the wires. I've cleaned the carbon brush and spring in the center of the cap. I've cleaned the needled like points that push into each spark plug wire. I've lightly sanded the rotor tip.<br /><br /> Does anyone have anything else I can try??<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Shane

 

[pistolp]

Re: Please Help!! 1972 85HP Chrysler Ignition -- CD module or distributor?

try turning the distributor cap and the see if that helps you get it started i had to do yhis to my 73 chrysler 130 and she fires up every tijme now also turn the top of the motor to the setting for the #1 firing spark plug should be marked
i hope this helps i am a new boat owner myself so might not work but its worth a shot worked for me

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Please Help!! 1972 85HP Chrysler Ignition -- CD module or distributor?

Although the points only signal the CD box, the gap is still important.

Remove the distributor cap, then remove the two bolts holding the distributor to the block. NOW it is easy to work on the distributor. Take a new set of points or a clean set and install them. Set them to .014 gap at the high point of any lobe. Be sure there is not too much lubricant on the rubbing block or it will get into the points and insulate them. Now, re-attach the distributor and cap.

Set the flywheel to top dead center--single scribed line on the pointer and 0 on the flywheel. Now with the two distributor bolts slightly loose, set the pulley on top so the scribed circular line matches the curve of the flywheel and the straight line in the center of it points directly at the flywheel.

Tighten the distributor and belt so that a .010 feeler gauge pointed like a finger bends when the belt is deflected 1/8 to 3/16 inch near the center. This is important. If the belt is too tight, you will have trouble shifting. If it is too loose, timing will wander. Be certain that the short black ground wire is in place from the distributor body to the block--the distributor rides in a greased bronze bushing and does not have a good ground by itself.

Now try to fire the engine.

Firing order is 123 and the top cylinder is #1. I think the distributor wire (plug wire) closest to the block is #1

 

[azlakes]

Re: Please Help!! 1972 85HP Chrysler Ignition -- CD module or distributor?

... holy sparkplugs batman. that post was over 5 years old. hope he has it running by now!