boat won't fire.

[JFMFG]

Had the wrong prop on all along...dammit.

You fucker

 

[azsunfun]

Credit card go through? Jump kill switch.

 

[RadMan]

Like stated,
Fuel, spark or could be air.

I’d pull air filter, grab starter fluid and spray then crank, if nothing, it’s electrical.

Had a boat with the metal air arrestor that was visually clean but actually so dirty wouldn’t run, Dad wasted several weekends and garage runs on that when I was a kid.

 

[fishing fool]

53 replies and not one "TAKE IT BACK TO WHERE YOU GOT IT SERVICED" or at least ask what he might have done.

 

[Orange Juice]

Still just cranking. I checked all the connections.

It’s either getting spark or it not.
It’s either getting fuel or it’s not. (the old days)

Or today, what code is the computer throwing?

 

[Runs2rch]

What motor?

 

[Bobby V]

What motor?

See post #29

 

[Tamalewagon]

53 replies and not one "TAKE IT BACK TO WHERE YOU GOT IT SERVICED" or at least ask what he might have done.

He is gone for the 4th with his family. He's a great guy and runs a great shop but I was desperate considering we are leaving tomorrow morning for the river.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

He is gone for the 4th with his family. He's a great guy and runs a great shop but I was desperate considering we are leaving tomorrow morning for the river.

Did you get this sorted out yet? Spark or fuel?

 

[Tamalewagon]

Did you get this sorted out yet? Spark or fuel?

MSD went south...

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

MSD went south...

I believe that’s what MSD means. Always have a spare. Doesn’t have to be in the boat but it should be in the truck at least.

 

[Rajobigguy]

I really don’t understand the infatuation with MSD, they offer little to no performance gains unless you are running a high volume supercharger, they are notoriously undependable and they are expensive.
Why do people bother with them???

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

I really don’t understand the infatuation with MSD, they offer little to no performance gains unless you are running a high volume supercharger, they are notoriously undependable and they are expensive.
Why do people bother with them???

What’s the recommended alternative?

 

[stephenkatsea]

MSD also means Marine Sanitation Device. aka - an on board shit treatment unit.

 

[28Eliminator]

I really don’t understand the infatuation with MSD, they offer little to no performance gains unless you are running a high volume supercharger, they are notoriously undependable and they are expensive.
Why do people bother with them???

When hooked up correctly and mounted correctly, they work fine. Mines been working in my boat for 13 years. At least that’s my theory.

Hopefully I didn’t just jinx myself

I mounted mine on rubber dampers on the mount for the electrical connector. Not directly to the block or any other mounts.

I also wired the power directly to the battery, ground and power. Connections are all soldered and shrink wrapped.

 

[rrrr]

When hooked up correctly and mounted correctly, they work fine. Mines been working in my boat for 13 years. At least that’s my theory.

Hopefully I didn’t just jinx myself

I mounted mine on rubber dampers on the mount for the electrical connector. Not directly to the block or any other mounts.

I also wired the power directly to the battery, ground and power. Connections are all soldered and shrink wrapped.
View attachment 1249172

In other words, you followed the installation instructions.

It seems like very few installers wire the power connections directly to the battery using 10 AWG wire as detailed in the manual.

 

[Rajobigguy]

What’s the recommended alternative?

Mallory, Jacob’s or even the factory hei units.
Like I said there is really no advantage to having multiple sparks for most applications. Actually the multi-spark is only operative below 3000 rpm anyway. After that it’s just a regular cdi.
I’ve heard a lot of people say that it makes starting easier and to those people I would say that if you need a multi-spark to start your engine you are masking a poorly tuned engine.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

Mallory, Jacob’s or even the factory hei units.
Like I said there is really no advantage to having multiple sparks for most applications. Actually the multi-spark is only operative below 3000 rpm anyway. After that it’s just a regular cdi.
I’ve heard a lot of people say that it makes starting easier and to those people I would say that if you need a multi-spark to start your engine you are masking a poorly tuned engine.

We used to run Stinger if anyone remembers those. Worked just fine on our Banks Twin Turbo setup from the 80s.

 

[Rajobigguy]

When hooked up correctly and mounted correctly, they work fine. Mines been working in my boat for 13 years. At least that’s my theory.

Hopefully I didn’t just jinx myself

I mounted mine on rubber dampers on the mount for the electrical connector. Not directly to the block or any other mounts.

I also wired the power directly to the battery, ground and power. Connections are all soldered and shrink wrapped.
View attachment 1249172

Your’s is likely an older US built unit. The newer units that are built overseas are much more problematic. Also yours is a marine unit (blue) They are fully potted.

 

[gqchris]

This, everyone I know that’s running an MSD box carries a spare. They are that dependable.

Keep one mounted below the main one ready to go. cant trust em.

 

[oldschool]

Glad you got it figured out. I’ve never had an MSD box or distributor take a shit on me in 30+ years, must be lucky.

 

[Outdrive1]

Ive lost a handful of them over the years.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

Your’s is likely an older US built unit. The newer units that are built overseas are much more problematic. Also yours is a marine unit (blue) They are fully potted.

Why would anyone use the automotive red ones over the marine blue ones? I’ve only ever seen the blue ones get used on our engines, but even then we’ve had those go bad too.

 

[obnoxious001]

Thanks. We don't go out on the holidays but we are headed to Parker Wednesday. Hopefully I can get someone to see it by then but everyone is closed today.

I don't really work on boats, but might take a quick look if it's early enough in the morning before the heat.

 

[coolchange]

Out of gas.

 

[obnoxious001]

Why would anyone use the automotive red ones over the marine blue ones? I’ve only ever seen the blue ones get used on our engines, but even then we’ve had those go bad too.

A few years back there were a number of the blue ones going bad. I think the newer "digital" boxes are more forgiving and will work with lower voltage than the older boxes. I changed one out for a friend who has a blown engine I built for him, the wiring is slightly different from the blue marine box, and the separate rev limiter was removed since the new box had it built in.

 

[28Eliminator]

Your’s is likely an older US built unit. The newer units that are built overseas are much more problematic. Also yours is a marine unit (blue) They are fully potted.

So your talking about a Street (red) box? I see you edited your post….

I know the digital boxes have been problematic. The M6-AL are not digital.

 

[28Eliminator]

Ive lost a handful of them over the years.

Red or blue boxes?

 

[Outdrive1]

Red or blue boxes?

Blue

 

[Outdrive1]

My old 24 ate three of them. Someone told me it was probably the onboard charger.

 

[oldschool]

I’ve been running a BTM 6 (red) box for YEARS. Sent it into MSD a couple times. I’ve had lots of issues, but the MSD was never one of them. Keep
Them dry and vented and they tend to work, just my experience.

 

[Shlbyntro]

Mallory, Jacob’s or even the factory hei units.
Like I said there is really no advantage to having multiple sparks for most applications. Actually the multi-spark is only operative below 3000 rpm anyway. After that it’s just a regular cdi.
I’ve heard a lot of people say that it makes starting easier and to those people I would say that if you need a multi-spark to start your engine you are masking a poorly tuned engine.

The only time I think they're needed is on engines that are running fixed or limited ignition timing curves and are dumping fuel at idle to prevent detonation. I'll be running one on my Cobra but only because it's the easiest way to install a rev limiter on an otherwise analog engine.

If your boat has a factory engine, or even a lightly modified factory engine, I see absolutely no need for an MSD box. It's an added failure point that provides zero benefit.

 

[4Waters]

When hooked up correctly and mounted correctly, they work fine. Mines been working in my boat for 13 years. At least that’s my theory.

Hopefully I didn’t just jinx myself

I mounted mine on rubber dampers on the mount for the electrical connector. Not directly to the block or any other mounts.

I also wired the power directly to the battery, ground and power. Connections are all soldered and shrink wrapped.
View attachment 1249172

Wow, mounted correctly and no issues. I ran my 6al for 20 years in my race car with zero issues, I bought a 91 mustang that had ignition issues that turned out to be the MSD that had the 6al box mounted without the rubber insulators.

Ford ran 6a boxes on straight 6cyl F150 and F250 in the early 90's with no issues as well.

 

[Willie B]

…Any body still use Vertex Mags…never had an issue with mine…’74 LS7 BBC???…

 

[2FORCEFULL]

What does “huff “ mean ?

I think huff is when the air goes out and puff when it goes in...maybe some pot heads will chime in....