351 W Distributor

Here's a picture of the location with the cover removed courtesy of somebody on CCF

audiodude wrote: Thanks Chris and Ken, I will bring a new resistor next time I get to go down to the boat and hope that fixes my problem Art

Art,
Ceramic resistors don't gain or loose resistance. They are ether good at there design resistance or "open" meaning there's no continuity so no current flows through them. There's a element inside producing the resistance so when it "burns out", it's like a light bulb that no longer works. Taking a VOM with you so you can confirm resistance and or volts in and out.

audiodude wrote:    My points don't looked burnt

You can't tell the condition of the point contact faces by looking. Again, put the VOM to work to check them. Disconnect the - wire off the coil and with the points closed, Ohm between it and ground (the block). You should get a near zero Ohm reading. .

Ok so I finally got back the boat. There is indeed a resistor right where you guys said it would be so that answers that question. I did a full tune up, Points, Plugs, Condenser, Cap and Rotor. I took the boat out it ran great. I then changed to the ignition wires, started the boat and seem to run fine. Got ready to go ski I idled out my friend jumped in the water said hit it and the boat died, same problem as described earlier in the post. I checked one of the plugs it looked fine, I rechecked the points they look fine, I checked the coil and it is delivering 7.5 volts to the points. Then checked the fuel line by blowing air in with a bicycle pump, there didn't seem to be a problem as I heard air blowing in the tank. I checked the vent tube, no problem there. I could get the boat up to speed if nursed it but even then if I tried to go full throttle it would bog down and die. It will go right up to 4000+ rpm with no load. Help!

Thanks Tim. I didn't realize it but I took off the elbow and now i guess the anti siphon valve, unfortunately since I didn't know it was the anti siphon valve I didn't check it . However the elbow actually attached to the pick up tube, is that right? I will do some more checking tomorrow.

It is very easy and a common problem to get the spark plug wires re-arranged when replacing a set. Check to ensure your cables are routed to the correct spark plugs. And don't be fooled by the firing order cast on the intake manifold. Look on the aluminum tag near your ballast resistor.

That Emoticon is embarassed because I didn’t know that I had the anti siphon valve in my hand and didn’t know it. Anyway fireing order was correct. I found some debris in the anti siphon valve, checked the intake screen at the carb which was clean rechecked the point gap all was good. Noticed excess gas in the carb coming from the primaries. Cleaned and checked the float level put it back together and voila success! Boats ran great and we got a couple of runs in. Thanks for all the help.