'89 SN, no Start, no Spark

[brittcrowell]

Helping out my ski buddy with his '89 SN.
Got the muffler that blew up fixed and put back on this week. But can't get the boat to start.
Checked the coil and its getting power, but nothing on the spark plugs. Going to the parts house tomorrow to get a new coil.
Was wondering about replacing the points too.
Are they commonly available?
And what should the gap on the points be?

Thanks
Britt

[Nautiquehunter]

RE:

Britt
Stop don't buy anything untill you test it.
1- get a test light with key on go from ground to pos and then neg of the coil it should light on both .
2- connect test light ground to neg term of the coil[ side going to the distrubotor] crank the engine and
watch the test light it should flash.
Start by replacing the points and condenser they should be replaced yearly set the gap at about .019 or about the thickness of a matchbook cover.
Ill PM you a cell number call me with test results

[brittcrowell]

RE:

I've got a little multimeter. When I was there tonight I was testing the voltage of the two wires running to the coil and was getting about 5 volts.
I thought that was low till I took off the back cover and saw the big ceramic resistor and read of the coil 6/12V use external resistor. Made a little more since then.
I took out one of the spark plugs and left it connected to the wire and grounded it out and got no spark on cranking.
Its a 25 mile drive each way to the lake, so I'd like to have the coil in hand when I go back up tomorrow.
Thanks for the info on the point gap, they might be the original points and condenser on the boat, could they be the only problem?

Britt

[Nautiquehunter]

RE:

The points and condenser are the weak link in the system that's more than likely a problem
I would change them as a yearly maintenance .
What is the voltage going into the ballast resistor?
5 volts is not enough to fire the ignition you need min 9.5 volts.
Check the voltage going in the resistor if its not battery voltage your ign switch or wiring may be bad.
If it is batt voltage the resistor may be bad or coil shorted out.

[brittcrowell]

RE:

I couldn't get a set of points or condenser at the local parts store.
They had a conversion kit for $80, but I didn't get it.
So I cleaned the points and set the gap today when I was up at the lake.
I still had one of the spark plugs out to see if I was getting spark.
I barely tapped the ignition and it fired right off! With the spark plug out on that one cyl it was a bit loud and my shell shock from the muffler blowing acted up a bit.
So all is good and the boat is running great.
Thanks for the info and the offer to help out over the phone Mike.

Britt

[Nautiquehunter]

RE:

Anytime Britt

[nms1991]

RE:

Still replace the points as they already had corrosion on them and they do not take much to replace.

[brittcrowell]

RE:

Well the owner of the boat is ready to do the upgrade to the electronic module. (Even though its running like a top now!)
The boat has the screw down type cap ( Prestolite screw down?)
They have a conversion kit at the local FAPS for $80 compared to skidims $150 kit.
Is there a preferred kit for this motor or going the inexpensive FAPS way ok?

Britt

[TravisFling]

RE:

Ignition protected? Keep in mind you're in a boat!!!