Soooo, Engine Wouldn't Start

[Vyndance]

Pull a plug and see if you have spark. Does it have points or a EM pickup? Late 70's were pivotal in ignition systems. Could have fried a pickup, could be a blown fuse. Check for spark.

[bugmon]

Look for a blown fuse or fuseable link in the ignition circuit . It might have a diode on the ignition side as well that could be fried due to the wires melting.
OMC has an online help forum where you can ask a mechanic and you won't have him drinking your beer. ... might be worth a shot

[DeepFrz]

I confused your mention of plug earlier and thought you were talking about spark plugs, so had assumed the wires were the high tension wires. Ass u me bites again...

[Connemara]

I have much the same motor (a couple of years younger) and I admit you have me puzzled. If it cranks but won't start, you might want to check to see if your spark plugs are ... um ... sparking.

Any possibility that whatever caused the wires to melt has somehow interrupted fuel flow to the engine?

For more precise advice, you might ask the folks on the Yahoo saildrive forum. Lot of OMC Zephyr experts there.

Connemara

[SKI]

I'm not familiar with your engine but you did say it had a distributor if you aren't getting spark check the rotor under the distributor cap and make sure it's rotating when the engine is cranked. It's usually a brass gear that drives the distributor and they can strip. Next try replacing the spark plugs if your unsure how old they are. I've had bad plugs cause an engine not to fire........ one day it's running shut it off and next day it wont fire. Just a few things to maybe try

[GordMay]

OMC “Zephyr” Saildrive Manuals ➥ documents

Including:

Ignition ➥ http://web.mac.com/overholtzer/impli...n%20System.pdf

Electrical ➥ http://web.mac.com/overholtzer/impli...l%20System.pdf

And ➥ http://web.mac.com/overholtzer/impli...ocuments_files/Sail%20Drive%20Control%20Installation%20Manual.pdf

Owner’s ➥ http://web.mac.com/overholtzer/impli...r%20Manual.pdf

Parts (1977) ➥ http://web.mac.com/overholtzer/impli...20-%201978.pdf

[sdowney717]

pull off a plugwire.
hold it about 1/4 inch away from metal
crank it and watch for spark.

but absolutely dont do this with gas fumes around

My guess is you have no spark since all your wires melted.
That seems odd to have such a hot surface on a boat motor for wires to melt.
wires can also melt from prolonged short circuit. Enough current and you will get a fire.

[Tori]

The plugs are new (less than 6 months) when removed them they were wet? But dried and replaced and both are firing...engine still cranks only won't start

[Tori]

Fuel pump works...choke works...next to check carburetor.....

[Steve W]

If you now have spark, generally that leaves fuel or timing. Wet plugs can indicate flooding, sometimes caused by the float in the carb being stuck in the down position, allowing way too much fuel into the cylinders. Sometimes tapping the bowl will unstick the float, more likely need to remove bowl on carb and replace a saturated float or if float is ok, there could be some debris under the float valve that will not allow it to close, stopping the fuel flow. Hope this helps.

[wetsail1]

Turn the key now if you really want to hear him cuss

[Tori]

He says carburetor works fine...but from what I keep reading spark plugs shouldn't get wet? Dunno.....

[Noname]

You have gas?? Last time my lawn mower didn't start, it was out of fuel!

[Tori]

Lol we have gas just filled her prior to this.
Got motor started just now using starter fluid but won't stay running....I assume this means not getting fuel? Water in gas?

[sdowney717]

This is why I use electric fuel pumps.
You can make them run temporarily with the engine off to prime the carb, and you can also discover if your fuel system can flow any fuel.
Disconnect carb inlet hose,
put hose end into gas can
turn on pump
see what happens.

The rotary vane Carters and Holleys CAN pull fuel thru an antisiphon valve and fill a fuel filter from the suction side.