Ok years ago I had to put one of these on my 1957 tractor between the coil and distributor to keep from burning up the points. My ? Is why does my boat have one. I've got the msd marine 83606 ready to run distributor.


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Your boat has one because no one pulled it off like they were supposed to. ...

The MSD R to R used a 12V power source and a ballast resistor should not be used.

Remove it and make a quality splice at the connections. Or simply replace that small section of purple wire.

And just because it bothered me.  The resistor is there to keep the coil from overheating and blowing up. Not necessarily to prevent points from frying.  That is the job of the condenser in the distributor.

Also. That resistor should not have been between the distributor and the coil, but rather between the ignition switch and the coil.

Have fun.

GT

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yeah ive got one of those as well.  no aftermarket dist. tho....just a prestolite with points.  should i remove it...?  or leave it....and benefit from 2-3 mile an hour increase on top end?  ok no! i gain no speed from it....i cant support that...
but i am curious to it advantage, etc.

Leave yours on points lover.... 

One time with the ignition left on with no vroom vroom noises and your chit is done.. That being said, you can buy an internally resisted ignition coil and delete the resistor...   

See what I did there?...Solutions, not problems.   


GT