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K engine - no spark (1954 Sea Skiff)

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mcashman53
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K engine - no spark (1954 Sea Skiff)

Post by mcashman53 » Sun Mar 29, 2020 7:47 am

I have a 1954 CC Sea Skiff with a K engine that has not been run in about 4 years. About 5 years ago the engine was rebuilt by a very reputable mechanic and ran nicely.
When I purchased the boat 2 months ago I could not turn the engine. It had sat for too long and the valves were stuck. I was successful in freeing the engine valves with Mystery Oil and with a new 12V battery she turns over nicely and seems to want to start.
Good fuel to the carb, strong starter, replaced the ignition solenoid, points, condensor, distributor cap and plugs. I gapped the points at .022 but just cannot get a spark. I check for an indication of a spark at the points but nothing and even pulled a plug to check for a spark - but still nothing. I'm showing voltage from the coil to the distributor, but that's where it ends. Any help/advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! Mike

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jim
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Re: K engine - no spark (1954 Sea Skiff)

Post by jim » Sun Mar 29, 2020 8:47 am

Do you get spark from the high-tension wire that goes from the top of the coil to the top of the distributor?

On our 1940 K engine, it's the coils that go bad.
Jim Lengel, Sunnyside, 30’ 1940 Chris Craft Enclosed Cruiser
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mcashman53
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Re: K engine - no spark (1954 Sea Skiff)

Post by mcashman53 » Sun Mar 29, 2020 9:46 am

Thanks Jim. No, I'm not getting a spark from the coil wire...should I actually be seeing a spark if I pull it from the distributor cap?

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maritimeclassics
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Re: K engine - no spark (1954 Sea Skiff)

Post by maritimeclassics » Sun Mar 29, 2020 10:41 am

I would check it with a multimeter with on each side of the coil. If you have spark there I would pull the number on plug and and attach it to the plug wire, set on the engine block and see if there is spark at the plug.
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Restoration Projects:
1936 25' Gar Wood Custom
1947 Ventnor Hydroplane
1957 17' Deluxe Runabout
1948 25' Chris Craft Sportsman Twin
1959 19' Sliver Arrow Hull #75
1929 26' Chris Craft Custom Runabout
1937 25' Chris Craft Custom Runabout

mcashman53
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Re: K engine - no spark (1954 Sea Skiff)

Post by mcashman53 » Mon Mar 30, 2020 11:12 am

Thanks for your thoughts and help - I have continuity between the coil and distributor but still no spark. I feel like there may be a "grounding/short" issue somewhere. When I began troubleshooting and took off the bolt that connects the coil wire to the distributor body and attaches to the points/condensor, I feel I may have re-connected it wrong. There is a fiber washer that I'm not sure is in the proper location. Mike

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Bilge Rat
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Re: K engine - no spark (1954 Sea Skiff)

Post by Bilge Rat » Mon Mar 30, 2020 2:17 pm

That fiber washer and spacer where the distributor connection attaches has to be in a certain order otherwise it shorts the terminal to the distributor body (ground). That sounds like your no spark problem. I don't have the diagram electronically for this but someone here should and hopefully will post it.
1966 Lyman Cruisette 25 foot "Serenity Now!"
1953 Chris Craft Sportsman 22 foot "Summerwind"

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drrot
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Re: K engine - no spark (1954 Sea Skiff)

Post by drrot » Tue Mar 31, 2020 8:11 am

Remove the cap and rotor. Turn the ignition on. Use the point on a test light to open the points arm. Light should be off with points closed and on with points open.
Jim Staib
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1947 Penn Yan 12' Cartopper WXH474611
1950 Chris-Craft 22' Sportsman U-22-1532
1957 Chris-Craft 26' Sea Skiff SK-26-515
1968 Century 17' Resorter FG-68-174

mcashman53
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Re: K engine - no spark (1954 Sea Skiff)

Post by mcashman53 » Tue Mar 31, 2020 8:16 am

Thanks. Yes, that works...so it appears I have good connectivity to the cap. Not sure why I can't get a spark.

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mbigpops
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Re: K engine - no spark (1954 Sea Skiff)

Post by mbigpops » Tue Mar 31, 2020 9:45 am

Do you have the correct cap and rotor ? Is the rotor actually contacting the cap connections ?
1953 CC Rocket Runabout "Rocket Man"

mcashman53
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Re: K engine - no spark (1954 Sea Skiff)

Post by mcashman53 » Tue Mar 31, 2020 12:34 pm

Good point, and yes, it's identical to the one I replaced and I purchased it from Chris-Craft connection. But, I should still be seeing a "spark" between the points even with the cap off. I'm not seeing anything happening there even though the points are opening and closing as they should. I'm quite certain they are "gapped" correctly at .022.

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Jim Godlewski
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Re: K engine - no spark (1954 Sea Skiff)

Post by Jim Godlewski » Tue Mar 31, 2020 1:18 pm

Is it possible the new points condenser is bad. I often hear new condenser are defective.
1956 17 Sportsman CC-17-2310
1930 Model 100 7152

mcashman53
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Re: K engine - no spark (1954 Sea Skiff)

Post by mcashman53 » Tue Mar 31, 2020 3:38 pm

I guess it's possible the points are bad, but a bad condenser should not affect whether there is a spark or not...from my understanding of what a condenser does.

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Re: K engine - no spark (1954 Sea Skiff)

Post by mcashman53 » Thu Apr 02, 2020 10:13 am

Thanks for all the help everyone - I finally figured it out. The small bolt that holds the wire from the coil to the distributor was "grounding out" on the distributor body. The "insulation" piece that goes around the bolt was gone so I put a fiber washer there instead. Works great. :D

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