460 no spark

« **on:** June 27, 2015, 06:32:18 PM »

Okay so I just bought a 75 Miller with a 460 but I've got no spark. I've replaced the coil and the condenser already and new plug wires. I've bypassed the ballast resistor. Distributor was put it at TDC and lined up with plug wire #1 on the cap.

« **Reply #1 on:** June 27, 2015, 06:54:39 PM »

What type of ignition? You, for sure, have power?

« **Reply #2 on:** June 27, 2015, 07:12:51 PM »

Checked the power at the positive side of the coil and I have 12 volts if I put the ground lead on the block if I put the neg lead on the neg side of the coil I have nothing.. It's a points and condenser type distributor I think it's a Mallory

« **Reply #3 on:** June 27, 2015, 09:07:11 PM »

Had the same problem in my boat! Check the distributor where the condenser and distributor mount there's an insulator that goes bad and they ground out! Replace that and see what happens

Floating through life like I'm on my boat with a beer in my hand!!

« **Reply #4 on:** June 27, 2015, 09:23:35 PM »

Sorry the points mount not the distributor

Floating through life like I'm on my boat with a beer in my hand!!

« **Reply #5 on:** June 27, 2015, 09:34:59 PM »

my condenser is mounted externally to the stud on the outside of the dist. im thinking about just ordering a new dist. and rewiring the whole boat.

« **Reply #6 on:** June 28, 2015, 04:52:29 AM »

Quote from: Outlawmayhem on June 27, 2015, 09:34:59 PM

im thinking about just ordering a new dist. and rewiring the whole boat.

Seems a bit excessive.

I'm thinking you have bad grounding inside your distributor, either points and/or condenser.

If your distributor is in good mechanical condition, no need to change it.

Watch "Troubleshooting Conventional Ignition Systems Autolite Spark Plugs" on YouTube

« **Reply #7 on:** June 28, 2015, 04:55:16 AM »

Reason I want to rewire it is because I'm finding a ton of messed up wires that have bare spots and green corrosion. I'll give the video a watch. Hmm maybe convert the distributor to an electronic?

« **Reply #8 on:** June 28, 2015, 07:48:18 AM »

Same here but the stud on the outside runs through an insulator to the inside, the insulator that the stud runs through was wore out and allowed it to ground out. Fixed that and it worked great

Floating through life like I'm on my boat with a beer in my hand!!

« **Reply #9 on:** June 28, 2015, 01:50:41 PM »

Quote from: Outlawmayhem on June 28, 2015, 04:55:16 AM

Reason I want to rewire it is because I'm finding a ton of messed up wires that have bare spots and green corrosion. I'll give the video a watch. Hmm maybe convert the distributor to an electronic?

That's good enough reason for me.

« **Reply #10 on:** June 28, 2015, 01:53:28 PM »

Do you get spark from the coil wire if you quickly short the - side of the coil while you have power to the + side of the coil?

« **Reply #11 on:** June 28, 2015, 02:09:59 PM »

Just a question I want to ask. Have you pull distributor out yet. Reason why asking I had a buddy that was not getting any spark. Pulled the distributor out and the teeth on the distributor was ground away. Just something to check if you already haven't.

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« **Reply #12 on:** June 28, 2015, 05:12:16 PM »

I'll give the stud isolator a double check.. The distributor was out when I bought the boat I reinstalled it which was a pain because the intermediate shaft came out and I had to fish it out then try to get it back into the oil pump.

« **Reply #13 on:** June 28, 2015, 05:27:20 PM »

I just noticed reading this that you replaced the condenser but no mention of replacing the points themself...it been my experience with points that even briefly bypassing the ballast resister will smoke a set of points...just my .02.. good luck

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« **Reply #14 on:** June 28, 2015, 05:44:08 PM »

Wrong ballast resister and wrong point gap as well can cause no fire... i have a points dist in my bbc right now.. "ru4" i belive is the ballast resister from orielly and. 018 on the point gap...mine works bitchin for now..

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« **Reply #15 on:** June 28, 2015, 05:48:29 PM »

On our old boat we kept burning up condensers so we switched to the pertronix electronic ignition. Haven't had a problem since. I'm thinking I'm going to go this route and replace the ballast resistor.

« **Reply #16 on:** June 28, 2015, 06:25:40 PM »

Alright I think I found the culprit. I jumped the ballast and turned the key on. And turned the rotor slightly. I saw only one set of points arcing out. I'll replace the resistor and the points.

« **Reply #17 on:** June 28, 2015, 07:20:55 PM »

Not to sound dumb, but did u look at the cap? That carbon button on the cap is pretty fragile and can break off leaving the rotor with no connection. ...

« **Reply #18 on:** June 28, 2015, 10:58:22 PM »

Carbon button is there that was one of the first things I checked

« **Reply #19 on:** June 29, 2015, 07:08:14 AM »

Points on a boat👎 Electronic👍👍👍 and worth every penny regardless of what style u use.

« **Reply #20 on:** June 29, 2015, 04:49:47 PM »

10 4 on the button I agree w El mojado I just did a pertronix kit for my olds what a difference that made

« **Reply #21 on:** July 01, 2015, 05:09:32 PM »

Finally got it to fire up. Went down to the local performance shop and got myself a pertronix kit and coil. Wired it up and she fired right up. Now onto the rest of the stuff I need to do. Thanks everyone

« **Reply #22 on:** July 01, 2015, 07:27:11 PM »

Quote from: Outlawmayhem on July 01, 2015, 05:09:32 PM

Finally got it to fire up. Went down to the local performance shop and got myself a pertronix kit and coil. Wired it up and she fired right up. Now onto the rest of the stuff I need to do. Thanks everyone

right on bro! Go shredd some water!

« **Reply #23 on:** July 01, 2015, 08:42:18 PM »

Quote from: che77y on July 01, 2015, 07:27:11 PM

right on bro! Go shredd some water!

Soon. Hopefully in a couple weeks. I still have a lot to do.

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