83 Cruisader 5.7 270hp will not start

[Colbya1]

Hello all, new to this forum. Sounds like you guys are very knowledgeable with these engines. I took this boat out for a cruise at idle or just above and everything was running great until it stalled. I started the motor and continued with the journey when it stalled again.
About 20mins later it stalled again and has not started ever since. I changed the coil and condenser. I emptied the gas/water seperator, Inspected the cap points and rotor nothing looks burnt up. the points look like there operating normal. Im getting gas to the carb. I put a spark tester on the plug and get nothing. The only way I get a spark is going form the coil to ground. The spark seem to die out when the turning over. When I let off the key at the last second it seems like I get more of a spark. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[makomark]

Welcome to the Forum!

"...Spark from coil to ground..." all the time? if so, I'd start with changing the cap and rotor.

May also be the ballast resistor...last time it was changed?

 

[Colbya1]

I exchanged some parts like the resistor, rotor and cap off the other engine today but no luck so far. I will chk into the gap on the points tommorro. They seem to be operating correctly. No signs of pitting. From reading some of the other posts sounds like a faulty Tack or voltmeter/wiring could take out the coil or hinder performance. Would unhooking the connections to these various componets tell me if they are to blame?

 

[fastjeff]

Unhook the tach wire and see if that's it.

Jeff

 

[fastjeff]

Unhook the tach wire and see if that's it.

Jeff

 

[Colbya1]

I unhooked both tacks for the starboard engine. No luck. Im about to chk the gap on the points. C wht that turns up.

 

[Colbya1]

I installed a new coil. No Indication of a spark off the coil using the timing light.

 

[Colbya1]

It seems that we have got the thing running. Not sure exactly wht caused the problem. Were leaning heavly toward the gap on the points. I changed the condenser so thats a possibility also but the gap on the points were the last adjustment. Havnt hooked the tachs yet but didnt seem to help unhooking them. Anyways thanks for all advise given, much apprieciated.