OMC tune up kit installation

[Redrig]

Hello all,

I just purchased this tune up kit to install on my 77OMC with a ford 302.

http://www.iboats.com/mall/partfind...gd_poid=111662&gd_row=30&**********=703806863

cap and rotor are no problem, but I have always had electronic ignitions in my cars and I have never changed the internals of a distributor, like the condensor and the points and whatever else is in this kit.

My question is, is this a process that is just a matter of dropping the new ones in EXACTLY like the old pieces, or do I have to make adjustments while I am in there to give it a proper tune ?

Like I said I have never done this before and dont want to screw anything up.

does anyone know of good write up for this ?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC tune up kit installation

you have to set point gap, and you have to use a dwell meter to set dwell. I'd be shocked if there wasn't a youtube video on the process, but any service manual for your boat would cover it in detail very well.... probably even the crappy Clymer manual would have a decent section on points tune up. Factory manual best, Seloc 2nd best, Clymer an act of desperation.

 

[Redrig]

Re: OMC tune up kit installation

Thanks for the reply Howard.

I read through that section in my Seloc and I will probably leave that one to a professional, and I dont have a dwell meter anyways.

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: OMC tune up kit installation

Thanks for the reply Howard.

I read through that section in my Seloc and I will probably leave that one to a professional, and I dont have a dwell meter anyways.

Why not give it a shot, and if things don't work out, then hire a professional?

If you pull this off successfully, not only will you have saved money, but you will also know how to do one more item of regular maintenance on your boat.

Changing points would also be good thing to know in case you happen to loose a set of points on the water. If you kept a spare set of points on board, it may be the difference of getting running again in 5 minutes VS possibly waiting hours for a tow.

Dwell meters are cheap BTW;
http://www.amazon.com/Actron-CP7605-Tachometer-Voltmeter-Analyzer/dp/B00062YUUS

So aren't feeler gauge's;
http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10...keyword=feeler&prdNo=5&blockNo=5&blockType=L5

Good luck.

 

[sethjon]

Re: OMC tune up kit installation

This is the easiest thing you can do to a motor. The pts come out with one screw and so does the condenser. When you reset the pts just make sure they are riding on the "high" pt of the cam. You WILL NOT mess it up.

 

[mcleaves]

Re: OMC tune up kit installation

I agree with others. Pocket the $$ you'd spend on a pro and buy the dwell meter. I have always set my points, run it for a little while and rechecked them. Sometimes you need to make another adjustment after they break in. Not something you want to keep paying for. PLUS having an extra set on board in case of failure and knowing how to install them will save the day.

Quite often threads here with newbies will end up with people telling them to take it to a pro, but in this case you should absolutely do it yourself. If you can change and gap a spark plug you can do this. If you have trouble (you shouldn't) just ask us!

 

[Redrig]

Re: OMC tune up kit installation

I will give it a shot. I am just taking my boat to lake powell next week and that is not the place to break down. But last month my fuel economy was horrible so I figure a good tune is in order anyway. and I also just replaced my thermostat.

what will happen if I dont get this right? will it just run like crap and ping, or will it not run at all.

 

[NW Redneck]

Re: OMC tune up kit installation

Don't sweat it RR. I set mine for the first couple of years without a dwell meter, just feeler gauges and a timing light, and it ran just fine. Or at least not enough off of 'perfect' to be noticeable. The worst that will happen is it will run a little rough.

Here's some light reading from the 'Adults Only' sticky: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=335302

 

[Redrig]

Re: OMC tune up kit installation

alright fellas I have one for you.

I spent some time on the boat today making sure that I am ready for this week. I put on the new cap and rotor and plan on doing the points tomorrow.

I changed the cap and rotor, and go to start it.......

It runs like crap and is back firing, so of course I assume that I messed up the firing order, double and triple check the firing order, it is perfect. I check the timing with my light and it is not even close to 10, how can changing the cap and rotor result in a change in timing?

it ran fine previously.... I changed the timing back to 10 and now it runs great.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC tune up kit installation

how can changing the cap and rotor result in a change in timing?

if you put #1 wire one position clockwise or counterclockwise from where it was, timing will be out 45 degrees.

(360 degrees/8 cylinders = 45)

 

[Redrig]

Re: OMC tune up kit installation

thats what I thought too, but I have the #1 spot the same as on the old cap, the first one counterclockwise of the clip.

 

[Redrig]

Re: OMC tune up kit installation

got my new point set in just now, it is running good and seems to start easier than before, so that is good news. my buddy is coming over tomorrow with a dwell meter to get this dialed in.

my point with the arm that moves is hitting the fixed point a little high though, they are not centered perfectly, I am not sure where I went wrong on that one.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC tune up kit installation

sometimes you have to wiggle things and come at it at a different angle when tightening the pointset down, or even bend it slightly to get proper contact

 

[Redrig]

Re: OMC tune up kit installation

I cant figure out how to get them lined up, doesnt matter how I screw it in the moving one still hits high.

will I have poor performance with it like this ? or will it just make the the points wear faster ? I have them set right at .018 and it seems to be running good

 

[Redrig]

Re: OMC tune up kit installation

So what do you guys think?

am I OK with my points being a tiny bit off center? or does this have to fixed before I can run it?

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: OMC tune up kit installation

So what do you guys think?

am I OK with my points being a tiny bit off center? or does this have to fixed before I can run it?

From a longevity stand point, it's best that you get it so the points are making full contact with each other. As HS said, it can be a matter of doing a little fiddling to get it just right.

 

[pmpmstrb]

Re: OMC tune up kit installation

Is it worth the extra time, money, and hassle to just convert it over to a standard cap and rotor system? Like this one http://www.sterndrive.info/id123.html ?

 

[Redrig]

Re: OMC tune up kit installation

I was thinking about converting to an electronic ignition, but after the way my boat ran this past week I dont know, she ran great I got real close to 4mpg and way more power than she has ever had before. I goosed it and was going 40, there is no way that would have happened on my old points. I guess those need to be checked more than every few years, haha. this is my first engine with points and I knew nothing about them until the last couple of weeks. the boat was a gift I received a few years back.

my old points must have been shot because my last trip I had hardly any power and my efficiency was horrendous.

I would convert to electronic if they had ignition boxes that could be replaced, rather than just one whole unit, like an old duraspark setup or something like that, then I could carry a spare box with me, do they make any marine ones like that ? all I have seen is ones that dont have boxes