Ignition issue, I think

Hey guys,


I have posted several times here and you guys always, always give some great mechanical advice. Im gonna start from the beginning and try and see if you guys can't solve my problem. It will be a long post, so I want to apologize in advance. My mechanic friends and I just cannot figure this out. I have an 80' Nautique and last year I had the carb rebuilt. I did not know however that the black circle(choke, didnt know it was the choke at the time) needed to go with the carb so it could be adjusted. Got the carb back and I ran it for a day and lost all power while I was on the water. Realized the starter was bad and I replaced it. Also found out that something had disconnected underneath the dashboard. After replacing the starter and also connecting these 2 pieces again the boat would finally turn over, but would not start. I had a friend at the fire station tell me to bring it in one day and he seemed to think we could get it running again. Turned the key over and gas came spewing out of the carb(gas set in boat for about a year). Pulled the carb apart and everything works as it should. Pulled valve covers off thinking it could be a stuck valve. All were working properly. Finally got the carb issue resolved and now it seems as if im not getting enough fire to the plugs to make it fire up. I replaced my points style igntion(long time coming for that) with a pertronix 1581 and Im still not able to get it to fire. My battery seems weak but we've definitely got fire to the plugs although the spark is orange and blue and not solid blue like it should. My negative battery cable is corroted but I just changed the positive. This is my first boat and I have neglected it, but my goal is to get her running again and rebuild the trailer and replace graphics and restore her to the way she was in 80'. My wife is gonna kill me if I have to take it to CC here in town and spend another 75/hr. to have it fixed. If you guys can help in anyway it would be much appreciated. Sorry this was so long, I just thought it would be best if everyone knew everything rather than just half the story.

Thanks,
Wes

Just replaced old ignition system(plugs, rotor, etc.,) with an electronic conversion kit.

if the ground is corroided then you are not going to have any good results until that's fixed and don't by a cheap ass 2 ga automotive cable. Did you get a starter for a reverse rotation engine and is it a marine unit? Have you set the timing? did you read the instructions for the conversion kit and have the proper coil/ballast resistor set up for your kit?

I agree with all above. It sounds like you are spinning your engine backwards. Make sure you have the correct starter. An automotive starter will not work - it will turn in the wrong direction. You will still get fire to your plugs even if you are spinning your engine in the wrong direction.

Try to recover your old starter, from where ever it may be, and have it rebuilt.

Don't waste time looking under your valve covers for a stuck valve - that ain't happenin.

BTW, put your valve covers back on before you start your engine or you will learn a whole lot about how Ford lubes their rockers.

Compare their price with skidim.com before you commit.

Too bad you don't still have the old one, local rebuilders can often turn them around fast.

I bet someone is going to get your core someday and their f250 is going to try turning backwards...oops

Lots of 351/302 marine starters on ebay.

"Clockwise and counter-clockwise" confuse me because it depends on which way you're facing. Get a "reverse rotation" starter.

Be warned, there is such a thing as a standard rotation marine engine. Just becuase it is a marine starter does not garuantee it is a reverse-rotation starter.

The older CCs just happened to use RR engines.

Automobile engines are considered "standard rotation" engines.

Boats with two engines usually have one reverse and one standard so the prop thrust would cancel each other.