Switch box ?

[proples]

I have an early 80s Black Max 300 (# 6285408), with a bad switch box I think, no spark on 1-3-5. I swaped the boxes around and the spark followed the good box (no spark on 2-4-6). Now for the strange part ! I switched the boxes back to where thay were to start with, and now it has spark on all 6 . Can a switch box work sometimes like this, or do I have another problem ?

Also my switch boxes have a part # of 332-7778 A1 , And I found a pair for sale that are 332-7778 c (c = I think), are thay compatable. I was told that 332-7778 is the part number and the last letters/numbers are date codes and dont matter. Is this true ?

 

[achris]

Re: Switch box ?

Your problem may have been a bad connection or bad ground.

The suffix of the switch box number is not any sort of code, it's Mercury's part number, nothing more. If the boxes for sale have 332-7778 on them, they should be the right ones for your engine.

Chris...........

 

[j_martin]

Re: Switch box ?

The suffix is for different internals. Some are high perf, and need a special trigger to run. There doesn't seem to be any pattern to the numbering. You can find if it's interchangeable by looking it up at CDI and seeing which ones are replaced which of their 2 versions.

It is wise to be sure both switch boxes are the same number, as they inter-relate through the bias circuit. You could have some cylinders firing off time if you mix them up. Standard boxes will run to over 10,000 rpm, so I figure the high performance of the hiperf modules is by lightening your wallet.

hope it helps
John

 

[proples]

Re: Switch box ?

Thanks for the info on the switch boxes, I guess I will pick up the ones for sale and try them.

This thing is driveing me CRAZY !!!!! This morning there is no spark on #s 1-3-5 again . I have checked the triger wires and thay all show the same voltage, and the stator wires also show good . But sometimes there is no voltage on the wires from the boxes to the coils.

I guess some history on this thing might be helpfull too. I got it on a boat (21 ft Eliminator Daytona) that I bought just for the hull. It came out of a storage yard and the owner had no idea if the motor even ran. I did a compression check and all cly where around 120. So now I'm just trying to get consistant spark, than on to cleaning out the carbs. So I can try to fire it up and see if it makes any bad noises ( rods knocking or whatever ), before spending to much money on it.

BTW this is my first Outboard, and the info I have found here has been VERRY VERRY helpfull , Great Site !!!

 

[j_martin]

Re: Switch box ?

Thanks for the info on the switch boxes, I guess I will pick up the ones for sale and try them.

This thing is driveing me CRAZY !!!!! This morning there is no spark on #s 1-3-5 again . I have checked the triger wires and thay all show the same voltage, and the stator wires also show good . But sometimes there is no voltage on the wires from the boxes to the coils.

I guess some history on this thing might be helpfull too. I got it on a boat (21 ft Eliminator Daytona) that I bought just for the hull. It came out of a storage yard and the owner had no idea if the motor even ran. I did a compression check and all cly where around 120. So now I'm just trying to get consistant spark, than on to cleaning out the carbs. So I can try to fire it up and see if it makes any bad noises ( rods knocking or whatever ), before spending to much money on it.


BTW this is my first Outboard, and the info I have found here has been VERRY VERRY helpfull , Great Site !!!

Is the battery and starter in good shape? If it cranks slow, it could drop cylinders, maybe even banks of cylinders.

While you're testing, disconnect the kill wires from the switchboxes, just in case some mouse pee on a connector somewhere is killing it.


hope it helps
John

 

[proples]

Re: Switch box ?

Is the battery and starter in good shape? If it cranks slow, it could drop cylinders, maybe even banks of cylinders.

While you're testing, disconnect the kill wires from the switchboxes, just in case some mouse pee on a connector somewhere is killing it.


hope it helps
John

John,
All info is helpfull . I did disconect the kill wires from the boxes (no change). And I did notice it acting strange (eratic spark on the good side)when the battery gets low, but when its fully charged the starter seems to turn it just fine.

Hopefully the new/used boxes will be here by the weekend and I will have some good news for you guys.

Than I can start asking carb questions .

Thanks again
Proples/ Jeff

 

[Laddies]

Re: Switch box ?

It sounds typical like a bad bios in one of the boxes you can test with a DVA or by disconnecting the bios wire between the boxes.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Switch box ?

It sounds typical like a bad bios in one of the boxes you can test with a DVA or by disconnecting the bios wire between the boxes.

Laddies,
Bios is a computer program near the hardware level.
Bias is a set point in an analog circuit, (audio, trigger, etc)

I have a spelling checker It came with my PC. It plane lee marks four my revue Miss steaks aye can knot see.

hope it helps
John

 

[Laddies]

Re: Switch box ?

Yeh John, me hopes to be as smart as you some day

 

[proples]

Re: Switch box ?

Well I had some time today so I took all the conectors off and cleened everything with contact cleaner ! And in a GIANT cloud of smoke IT STARTED !!!! I had lots of oil in the fuel because I dont know how long it has been sitting. But it runs now! Started out a bit rough but after a second or two it cleared-out and ran fairly smooth.

Now, on to the rest of the list
clean the carbs
new water pump impeller
new seal on the propshaft
check to see if it charges the batt
all new cables. and on and on and on.........

But I've got lots of time before spring

Thanks again for the great advice Jeff / proples....... Oh yea I need to get a prop too :redface:

 

[j_martin]

Re: Switch box ?

Two cycles are simple. If you have compression, fuel, and spark, they run.

John

 

[achris]

Re: Switch box ?

Two cycles are simple. If you have compression, fuel, and spark, they run.

John

If you have enough compression, the right fuel/air mixture and spark at the the correct time, they run.

Chris.........