Re: General ignition question….

[amuller]

quote BillW:

Part of the reason outboard CD ignitions have gotten a bad rap is because they largely deserve it. It probably all comes down to the almighty dollar. The Merc and OMC ignition systems were just not reliable enough. The internal components just did not cut it. A lot of the stuff was built in Mexico; but no matter where it was built, it should have answered to a higher corporate standard. I have never, ever, replaced a bad Yamaha ignition component. I also do a lot of hobby small power equipment work; and there, too, the ignition stuff is almost bullet proof. Interestingly, the only exception to that is the OMC-built Lawnboy CD ignitions, which can fail at the drop of a hat or go forever, just like their outboard brothers. That says something about corporate philosophy, IMHO.

Yep. Many old-style ignitions are marginal in the sense that if everything isn’t just right there will be hard starting and misfiring. Modern systems with rapid rise and high energy can fire almost any plug not shorted with conductive material, and they don’t require routine maintenance.

Electronics are reliable if properly designed and constructed. I feel like the combination of high price, excess complexity, and low quality seen in OB ignitions is not really excusable.

(Then, I suppose one could say the same of the molded plastic coils that turned out to be inferior to the old taped and baked ones….)