Re: Motor dies after just a few seconds
Most engines with points have a ballast resister somewhere in the run circuit (often as big as 4 inches, ceramic, and mounted on the firewall or manifold). This device cuts down the voltage to the points so that the condenser doesn't break down trying to suppress arcing when the points open. During cranking the ballast resister is bypassed (points fed by separate wire from the starter solenoid) because the starter motor does a fine job of cutting down overall voltage and a hot spark is the priority. Trouble in the resister circuit means start but no run.<br /><br />The ballast resister generates heat and is subject to burning itself out or just frying the connections off of the attachment wire. Put a matchstick between the points, turn on the ignition and measure voltage where the wire attaches to the ungrounded point. If you see 0 volts, it will be a bad wire, connector, ballast resister or ignition switch. <br /><br />An easy way to test the resister is to bypass it with a jumper. If it is your problem the jumper will let the engine continue to run. But don't leave the dock in that condition; the voyage will not have a happy ending.
