1974 Mercury 500 5o hp wiring

by Dewey
(Cincinnati)

1974 Mercury 500 5o hp wiring

I was having a problem with my boat that when I turned the key it would turn but not start, and I was not getting spark from the plugs, so I ask someone that knows about boats and he said it was the switch box, and he would also rewire it because it was really corroded. I bought a used one online and rewired everything to get rid of corroded wires. I found a diagram that match mine and followed it and it looks like I have everything correct. But when I turn the key I get nothing? So what I did next is if I take a wire straight from the Battery and add it on to the red wire going to the receptacle, it will crank but not start? I am not getting a spark at the plugs still, any help would be really great, I know how to use a meter I just need to know what steps to take to troubleshoot