Ignition coil

[trog100]

Re: Ignition coil

"For you information it was written by Jim Lux<br />senior electronics engineer for the North American<br />Space Administration...uhh NASA.<br />There fore I would to believe anything Mr. Lux said"<br /><br />believing and understanding are too different things.. the almost universal problem with extremely "knowledgeable" folks.. is that they are totally incapable of communicating with normal folks.. they speak in tongues..<br /><br />course the other problem is the "simple" explanation even thow basically correct inevitably opens itself up to attack by the very experts who cant give a simple one..<br /><br />recently i had reason to ignore mercruiser specs and modify my ignition system.. i needed different plugs and fitted a kit form transistorized ignition assist system.. <br /><br />i needed to find out a few things.. i needed to gen up on sparkplugs to find some to match my needs.. i needed to find out if the cheapo transistorized kit i purchased was any good.. i needed to find out how coils work.. in short i needed to find out quite a lot..<br /><br />i read all sorts of super technical stuff most of it beyond my undstanding and needs.. but after wading thru tons of it i had the knowledge i needed to do the job..<br /><br />i try and pass on a little of what i recently learned in a simple none technical way and get accused of giving inaccurate information by those who believe a complicated subject must never be simplified..<br /><br />i cant help but feel that gaining knowledge or saving money aint what this forum is about.. its about following the part numbers and spending the money..!!<br /><br />my ignition modifications cost me twenty five quid.. two ignition kits one as a spare and one set of sparkplugs.. plus a lot of reading.. and every single piece of it was "automotive"..<br /><br />go figure..<br /><br />trog100

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: Ignition coil

Ok tommays,I've waded through this whole mess,but can you tell me what kind of oil is in these coils ?<br />Grin<br /><br />DHP

 

[Buttanic]

Re: Ignition coil

Good post trog100. Too many "sperts" want to make rocket science out of rocks.

 

[tommays]

Re: Ignition coil

DHP<br />i am sorry i said anything but still thing that the correct oem marine coil would give the best result last the longest and cost the least in the long run <br /><br />i put an auto coil on and old jonyrude with the timeing belt dist one my first job in 1974 it rusted and failed in about 10 days resulting in a tow for the owner at that point i learned it was much cheeper to put back in the correct part<br /><br />tommays

 

[cmyers_uk]

Re: Ignition coil

i read all sorts of super technical stuff most of it beyond my undstanding and needs.. but after wading thru tons of it i had the knowledge i needed to do the job..

Trog, This is what I never understand, I just replace the part that breaks with the same one from the engine manufacturer. Yes its more expensive but its saves all the time wading thru tons of stuff and ending up with something Im not 100% guarenteed. If you enjoy it fine I just rather open the wallet. At £100 per tank of fuel the parts are the least of my worries!

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: Ignition coil

tommays,<br /><br />I agree,but did you miss my ....<br /><br />Grin<br /> <br /> ?<br /><br />DHP

 

[newport dave]

Re: Ignition coil

Originally posted by rodbolt:<br />in the marine world we usually cant access the machine to the boat and most dealers arent going to buy one

Engine analyzers are now very small and compact. I can hook it up, take the boat out and put it under full load while observing everything that is going on. When combined with a PC based scan tool (Diacom) it is a very powerful diagnostic setup. The fact that most dealers are not going to buy one makes me very happy that I own two!<br /><br />Dave<br /><br />

 

[trog100]

Re: Ignition coil

"Trog, This is what I never understand, I just replace the part that breaks with the same one from the engine manufacturer. Yes its more expensive but its saves all the time wading thru tons of stuff and ending up with something Im not 100% guarenteed. If you enjoy it fine I just rather open the wallet. At £100 per tank of fuel the parts are the least of my worries!"<br /><br />yes chris i agree 100%.. but in many ways i live beyond my (financial) means.. this isnt just a boat thing with me.. its a "way of life thing"..<br /><br />i am surrounded by things i cant afford.. he he..<br /><br />i spend my life looking for cheaper alternatives to the "new manufacturers replacement part".. Don is my antichrist.. i think i am probably his.. he he..<br /><br />it does require "knowledge" acquiring "knowledge" does take time.. but time is one thing i have.. money i dont..<br /><br />my ignition mod cost me 25 quid for example.. it could have cost me 200 quid (two tanks of gas that) and it would not have been as good.. its easy to understand really.. multiply this example by a thousand times and u should see where i come from.<br /><br />now if only i was rich.. my life would be entirely different.. i certainly wouldnt need to know anything.. except where my wallet was... he he <br /><br />my antichrist comment was meant humourously by the way.. pleas dont anybody take it in any other way..<br /><br />trog100

 

[tommays]

Re: Ignition coil

DHP<br /><br /> <br /><br />i love this stuff<br /><br />tommays

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Ignition coil

dave<br /> killer looking machine<br /> will it work with the new distributorless type ign systems that the 8.1 and others are using? if it will post some info on it. may be worth my time tolook into it.

 

[Peter J Fraser]

Re: Ignition coil

Youve all got to remember that most OEM's actually dont make their own consumable parts at all.<br />It is supplied to a specification from the OEM and to a price.<br />It's not hard to find OEM (Genuine) parts and aftermarket parts that are the same. There are only a small number of component manufacturers worldwide all competing for your dollar.<br />Take Caterpillar as an example.<br />Genuine CAT parts are best for your tractor according to CAT's spin doctors.<br />They have over 40000 suppliers (independant)worldwide producing parts for them. over 4500 suppliers in the Chicago region alone. <br />Genuine Parts? <br />Hardly...<br />They even have someone else make the packaging for them.<br /><br />Good luck<br />Peter

 

[LuckyPenny]

Re: Ignition coil

boy did the worms come spilling out of the can I opened. I realize that for some, the question was more than simlpe. <br /><br />To put it in a nut shell, an oil filled, internal resister is what I need. Correct? I am not trying to mix and match parts, but the difference in price between a Marine and Automotive coil, of the same spec's is about $20, all you have to do is use the term boat.

 

[newport dave]

Re: Ignition coil

Lucky,<br />Poor guy - fifty posts in this thread and you still aren't sure. Is that the right coil? Uhh, what was the application again? I agree with the guys, get the right coil and you never have to think about it again. If you sustitute for a coil that might be right, won't you always be wondering?<br /><br />Rodbolt,<br />Yes, the engine analyzer does DIS and even COP with the proper accesories. It is made be SPX and sold by three different companys that put there name on it. The OTC version is called the "Vision Premier", The Bear-Allen version is called "Exxam", and Mac Tools has thier version, but I can't remember what they call it. For more info:<br /><br /> http://www.ntxtools.com/Merchant/me..._Code=OTC-OTC44551&Category_Code=224-VPREMIER <br /><br />and just an example of used prices. <br /><br /> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...ry=43989&item=4529195420&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW <br /><br />Dave

 

[rabidfish]

Re: Ignition coil

I think I give up on this one...<br /><br />And I blame DHP for this whole mess!<br /><br />You DOG! You live for this, don't you!

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Ignition coil

Geez guys, with all due respect to Jim Lux, this ain't rocket science. In 1977 there wern't too many choices when it came to coils. The auto versus marine argument is BS as long as there is a good quality coil tower boot. Are you honestly saying that for a 1977 350 chev with points there are different coils? That there is a difference between a car and a boat (with coils)? <br /><br />Luckypenny, a 'marine' coil is only $25.00, what's the big deal?<br /><br /> http://ebasicpower.american-data.ne...Y&Store_Code=ebasicpower&Category_Code=MER10E <br /><br /> http://cobemarine.com/s-cart/form.phtml?g_intCatID=25 <br /><br />Aldo

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Ignition coil

Originally posted by Luckypenny:<br /> Mercruiser 250 (1977 5.7L) standard points distr.Thanks

Are you sure you don't have an external resistor on that motor? I have a GM 1977 (now 96 repower, but 77 stuff went with it) If you do a Evinrude/Johnson PN 3852217 coil that needs a external resistor will work. Don't ask me why Johnny/Rude, this came from a old, reliable boat dealers mechanic.

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: Ignition coil

OOPS ! I may have been found out !<br /><br />G R I N<br /><br />DHP

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Ignition coil

Just one more thing to add to this humorus foray into ignition coil technology. If a non-ballast resistor coil is being replaced with one that requires a ballast resistor, the starter solenoid needs to have the "R" terminal which is the resistor bypass connection. If the bypass feature isn't used, the coil primary would not see 12v during the start mode.

 

[trog100]

Re: Ignition coil

this thread has bin about saving money really.. automotive or marine coils just started it off..<br /><br />the two sides of the arguemnet go thus.. some folks think u can actually save money for real and would like to find out how to.. some folks think that any attempt at saving money aint really saving money at all its just stirring up greater expensive for the future..<br /><br />both side of the arguement have their basis of truth which is why it will never be fully resolved..<br /><br />we have the "professional" who sees disaster after disaster caused by guys who dont know what they are doing trying to save a few dollars.. he has his view.. and probably earns his living from such guys..<br /><br />we have the "shadetree" who does his own work.. knows what he is doing.. does a good job and never goes near the professional cos he dosnt have to.. he has his view..<br /><br />the weird thing about this place is that we seem to have "professionally" biased advice being given to wannabe "shadetrees"..<br /><br />odd really..<br /><br />trog100

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Ignition coil

So what's wrong with professionally biased advice being given to "wannabe shadetrees" as you call them. If they are a wannabe shadetrees, they must not be one yet so they therefore need all the help they can get. If they are already a shadetree, they probably wouldn't post here about the difference between an automotive and marine coil - they would just go ahead and do it because they have inquisitive minds. However, replacing an engine part from the manufacturer that you know is designed for the engine with one that "you think might work" or "will probably work" is not good mechanics. Its called being "lucky". If you actually know that the swap of marine parts is acceptable from a safety standpoint, is an equivalent part, and meets the engine manufacturers specs then and only then can you say its definitely OK. Otherwise some words like "will probably be ok" are in order. Resolving this discussion is like any other issue -- as long there are two people on this earth there will always be two opinions.