vacuum advance?

[akscooter]

Hello I am in anchorage Alaska Iam helping a coworker on his 28 ft skipjack with two 350 volvo penta i/o starboard engine dist clamp was loose. and dist power wire was barely hanging on! I plan on two new dist caps and retiming both motors this weekend. but someone has installed automotive chevrolet HEI distributors I know marine engines are usualy mechanicl advance only how do I time themotors with these distriutors? your help is greatly appreciaeted THANK YOU AKSCOOTER

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: vacuum advance?

Howdy.


Well,

You don't. The mechanical advance will be all wrong. Marine engines use mechanical advance (only), if you have vacuum advance on the engines the timing will not be correct for the operating RPM.

You could change the fly-weights to the correct ones (I'm assuming the vacuum is not being used?) Then it would "time" correctly. (In spite of the fact that you have an unsafe situation here)

Automotive distributors (especially GM HEI) are not ignition protected. Keep running them and your friend (and his passengers) might be in the Anchorage Daily News as a casualty!!

If the victims lawyer discovers that you worked on the boat you might also be named in the ensuing lawsuit!

I wouldn't put my tools on a boat that I knew had automotive parts in it unless it was to remove them.



Cheers,


Rick

 

[SSSuper83]

Re: vacuum advance?

Totally agreed with all of the above.

The distributors BOTH need to go. They are a fire and safety hazard to all aboard the boat. Even though you are in AK..the parts can be found easily to fix this problem..even used. It will just take some down time for shipping. Start looking now before it starts getting dark up there!