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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Fort Worth, TX
    Posts
    1,049

    Default Cap and rotor replacement.

    Would an automotive cap and rotor work fine? I can get one for a chevy truck for $25 with brass contacts vs paying $80 for the marine version.
    -2012 Supra Launch 21V
    -2008 Mobius LSV

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Vancouver WA
    Posts
    5,019

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by bzubke1 View Post
    Would an automotive cap and rotor work fine? I can get one for a chevy truck for $25 with brass contacts vs paying $80 for the marine version.
    I threw a automotive cap and rotor in mine because it's what I could find in a pinch. it's working fine and mine doesn't even have the brass. I just figure on mine that I'll replace it sooner. That said, if you have brass, then I'd do it and not look back. Many people have done the same.
    2008 Moomba Mobius XLV. Monster Cargo Bimini, WS Rev 410's, Polk Cabins, 3 Infinity Subs, PPI amps, WS420, Exile BT, upgraded ballast pumps, up to 3,500+ pounds of ballast, Blue LED's...
    1992 Supra Sunsport. **SOLD** 2k pounds ballast, Surf System, Blue LED's everywhere, decent audio system.
    Tow Rig: 2013 F150 Ecoboost FX4 (wife's rig) Other money pits include:1998 BMW M3 Cabriolet, 2009 Audic A6 Avant 3.0T, 2005 Kawasaki ZX-6R 636.
    www.TraysonsToybox.com

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Ft. Collins, CO
    Posts
    688

    Default

    NO, NO, NO.

    It could "work" just fine, but these are exactly the kind of parts that must be marine rated (explosion proof). If anything ever happened that you had a bit of fuel vapor in the bilge, this would be your spark source and then big boom. If you are in a pinch and need to get off the water, then by all means use an auto parts store part, leave the cover open for a long time and then start it with fire extinguisher in hand but I wouldn't want to do it more than once.
    2007 Mobius LSV
    1989 Sanger Skier DX - sold

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Middle TN
    Posts
    148

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by gregski View Post
    NO, NO, NO.

    It could "work" just fine, but these are exactly the kind of parts that must be marine rated (explosion proof). If anything ever happened that you had a bit of fuel vapor in the bilge, this would be your spark source and then big boom. If you are in a pinch and need to get off the water, then by all means use an auto parts store part, leave the cover open for a long time and then start it with fire extinguisher in hand but I wouldn't want to do it more than once.

    He is talking about just a cap and rotor not the complete distributor.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Ft. Collins, CO
    Posts
    688

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by lee View Post
    He is talking about just a cap and rotor not the complete distributor.
    The cap and rotor is exactly where the spark happens every time a cylinder fires. Isn't the cap modified to be sealed?
    Last edited by gregski; 02-01-2017 at 11:51 AM.
    2007 Mobius LSV
    1989 Sanger Skier DX - sold

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Vancouver WA
    Posts
    5,019

    Default

    Here's corroded the "marine" cap that was on my XLV. just attached to the distrib with 2 screws. nothing to seal anything...

    2008 Moomba Mobius XLV. Monster Cargo Bimini, WS Rev 410's, Polk Cabins, 3 Infinity Subs, PPI amps, WS420, Exile BT, upgraded ballast pumps, up to 3,500+ pounds of ballast, Blue LED's...
    1992 Supra Sunsport. **SOLD** 2k pounds ballast, Surf System, Blue LED's everywhere, decent audio system.
    Tow Rig: 2013 F150 Ecoboost FX4 (wife's rig) Other money pits include:1998 BMW M3 Cabriolet, 2009 Audic A6 Avant 3.0T, 2005 Kawasaki ZX-6R 636.
    www.TraysonsToybox.com

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Tallahassee, FL
    Posts
    14,071

    Default

    I sent Engine Nut a PM and asked him to weigh in. Let's see what he says.
    My Mom said I'm not allowed to get wet!
    2008 LSV (sold)
    2000 Outback LS (sold)
    LLTR!!!!!!!!



  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Illinois
    Posts
    28

    Default

    If you check the cap at regular intervals you can clean the brass contacts with some wet sand paper before the oxidation builds up too badly. Pretty easy to do if you catch it before it gets too bad...and its free.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Middle TN
    Posts
    148

    Default

    The distributor housing is sealed from spark not the cap itself. If the cap is seated onto the housing correctly and screwed down tightly, spark should not escape.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Tallahassee, FL
    Posts
    14,071

    Default

    From Engine Nut PM:

    The caps and rotors used on Indmar engines are no different than those used in automotive applications. The distributor itself is a marine specific component due to the requirement that the distributor vents must prevent any arcing that would occur inside the distributor from igniting gasoline fumes in the engine compartment. Other marine specific components are starters, alternators, carburetors and flame arrestors. Look for the number J1171 on the starter, alternator and distributor. This is the identification number of the test that the US Coast Guard uses to ensure those components are spark arrested. The number on the flame arrestor is J1939 and on a carburetor, the fuel bowl vents must direct any fuel back into the throat of the carburetor in case the float sticks and the float bowl overflows. Hope this helps.

    Larry Engelbert
    Indmar Marine Engines
    "Power to the Sport"

    Thanks, Larry!
    My Mom said I'm not allowed to get wet!
    2008 LSV (sold)
    2000 Outback LS (sold)
    LLTR!!!!!!!!



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