Mercruiser Condensor Coil question (easy enough)

[Mikecouil]

I bought a 1969 Mercruiser inboard motor. The guy swears up and down they had it in the water until last fall and then winterized it and stored it away.<br /><br />There was no gas in it so I filled the tank, checked the oil (very clean) and started the engine. I couldn't get it to fire, so I put a little gas in the carbuerator. Still nothing. <br /><br />I pulled a plug and set it on the head and after turning the key I got no spark (if this sounds like a stupid thing to do please excuse me, it's what my father told me to do). I figure the easiest thing to change is the condensor coil so I'm starting there. <br /><br />Here's my question. Are all condensor coils basically the same thing? I went to napa, which had a similar looking coil, and after installing it I got nothing at all. When I put the old one in it is back to turning but not firing. Do I HAVE to have the exact same part #?<br /><br />If it's not the condensor coil, what do I try next? Is there an easier way to diagnose what is wrong than the trial and error method? <br /><br />Thank you in advance,<br /><br />Mike

 

[badass]

Re: Mercruiser Condensor Coil question (easy enough)

go to your local mercruiser dealer and get the right parts for your application and along with your condensor change your points < located inside your distributor

 

[Mikecouil]

Re: Mercruiser Condensor Coil question (easy enough)

I appreciate the advice. If I lived in an area that had a Mercruiser dealer, I would have never gone to Napa <br /><br />I noticed by reading another thread that you are able to run a jumper from the Pos battery post to the positive side of the condensor coil. Could someone please tell a boating moron which side the positive side of the coil is? I have a small yellow wire on top, a small black wire on bottom, big yellow wire on the right, and another wire that I forget the color of on the left. All I have to do is run a jumper and I should get it to fire?

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: Mercruiser Condensor Coil question (easy enough)

THe condensor and the coil are two separate parts. Sounds like you are talking about the coil. The condenser is inside the distributor, attached to the points. <br /><br />You can try running a jumper to the + terminal and see if that helps. If it fires at least you've narrowed down the problem.

 

[hoot]

Re: Mercruiser Condensor Coil question (easy enough)

check the kill switch first!! if this is the first time this year the boat has been started, it may take time for the gas to get into the carb. the fuel pump may need priming. check spark by pulling a wire off of a plug, hold it close to the plug end, and have someone start the boat. look for a strong spark from the wire end to the plug. sometimes you will not get a good ground thru paint. and i use auto parts for my points, condensor, coil, and plugs. but carb parts are different.

 

[Mikecouil]

Re: Mercruiser Condensor Coil question (easy enough)

Thank you Hoot. I'm going right now to pick up my father, who is real good with all pre 1980 engines of all types. He begged me to stop trying any and all work by myself on the boat because he's worried that I'm either going to mess something up or kill myself using jumpers.

 

[Mikecouil]

Re: Mercruiser Condensor Coil question (easy enough)

Got it going this morning. Broke down and bought a cheap testing light. Was getting spark TO the coil condensor but nothing coming out. Took the condensor to the local evinrude dealer, who told me that the part is no longer made and no substitute exists. I then took the part to the local electric motor guy to see if he could rebuild it. He tested it for 1.00 and it was just fine. I went home, reinstalled it, and got spark. Turned the key and it fired right up.<br /><br />What troubles me is that there wasn't a loose connection. All wires were tight. I'm concerned that there must be bad wiring somewhere. <br /><br />But for the time being, she RUNS!! and Runs farely well. As soon as the damn weather permits I'm gonna take it out and see if the carbon I see coming out the back is just from sitting.<br /><br />Thanks for the responses guys. I feel pretty satisfied. I'm in NO way a mechanic but a 1969 inboard doesn't have a whole lot to it. I may actually be able to do most of my own repairs and save the 78.00 an hour the local shop charges <br /><br />Mike