Mercury 50 hp 1967 no spark

[mgsolakis]

I looked up the model number and it seems to be a 1967. No spark on any cyl. Does the motor us coils? If so I’m not seeing them. The spark plug wires seem to go directly to the distributer.

[wiscoboater]

Coil is inside the distributor or mag as it’s called. It has a single set of points, condenser and a rotor like the old cars did. I would start with those items first. The coils on those motors are pretty bullet proof.

[billw]

If there is no center, fifth wire on the distributor cap, then the coil is inside the distributor. If there is a fifth, 7 mm wire in the center of the cap, it will trace back to a single coil. Not sure when the 500 went to electronic ignition without going by serial number; but it was around 1967ish…..

Long live American manufacturing!

[mgsolakis]

It does not look easy to get at that distributer that’s for sure. Do you remove it and open it to take a look a the points?

[dave-bernard]

It is easy 4 bolts. take the adjustment plate off first don’t move the adjustments then remove the 4 bolts. it is splined with a flat tooth for alignment. on the drive there is a mark to align the flat spline. 1 914 310 7086.

[jeff-register]

Yes,
It is a magneto & distributer combonation. Everything is in the metal enclousure. You can get away with cleaning the points, resetting them & checking the capacitor. Clean the rotor & cap with Q tips & contact cleaner. Some had problems with the caps arcing. look for hairline cracks & note they are not available except e bay any more.

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