No Spark?

[bobbymalone]

Alright guys, let me tell you the latest in my saga to get my boat up to 100%.

So let me start with the background for those of you that haven't been following along with my random posts over the last couplefew months.

Boat sat around in my pop's garage for almost 15 years. I dragged it up to MN, cleaned out the carbs, replaced the lower unit seals and impeller and the bendix gear on the starter was rusted up. Replaced the starter and she fired up on the first crank, but needed a tune. Got the tunage done by a pro (Thanks a bunch to Elko motorsports) and it purred like a kitten. Took it out a few times, ripped it around the lake, it runs really really good.

Then I took it out a couple weeks ago, ripped around the lake, went fishing, blah blah blah. Pulled it into the dock at the launch and shut 'er down while my bro in law backed the trailer in. Went to start it back up and it wouldn't go. OK. Kept cranking it and after a short time, she fired back up and I put it on the trailer.

Took it out a week later, backed the trailer in the water, turned the key, and she fired right up. Purred like a kitten, backed it off the trailer and then tied up and killed it while the wife parked the car. Started it back up again, no problems. Shifted into reverse, backed it up a few feet and then it died. Started it back up again with a little cranking, put it in gear and she died again. Floated into the shore and cranked and cranked... No go. didn't even try to fire up, not even a sputter. A helpful gentleman at the launch that knew a thing or two about rebuilding outboards did the old screwdriver spark test. No spark.

Hmmm.

I'm thinking that it could be one of two things.

1. kill switch went bad

2. coil pack

Any other ideas? Can I test the kill switch by taking it out of the throttle control and "hot wiring" it? Is there a good way to test the coil pack?

I am hoping to fix it myself, as money doesn't grow on trees.

As always, your help/suggestions are much appreciated. I have already saved a ton of money with help from you guys so far.

[jentz]

I was looking at coil testing the otherday,Google it,There is a way to check it with a ohm meter,The suggested way was with a special tool that I would imagine a shop would have.Maybe take it off and bring it in,Unless your like me and want to try yourself and possibly learn something new.

[boatfixer]

Bobby, could you please provide us with the year, make and hp?

[bobbymalone]

82 evinrude 75hp

E75TRL

sorry

[boatfixer]

I'd say more than likely the power pack. there is no test for that though. Test everything else. It could also be the kill switch (safety switch)

All 3 cylinders lost spark??

To test the charge coil (its under the flywheel) look for the brown and brown/yellow wires coming from under the flywheel. If you have an ohmmeter, check it for 450-550 ohms.

To test the trigger (under the flywheel) look for the white and blue/purple/green wires coming from under the flywheel and test them. Should have 38-42 ohms.

Checking for peak voltage is actually a better way, but I dont think you have a meter with a Direct Voltage Adapter.

You can isolate the key switch and kill switch by unplugging the wire harness at the engine and using a remote jumper switch at the solenoid to crank the engine and look for spark. The yellow wire with the red tracer is the start terminal. Its a ground to kill system and by disconnecting the harness, you open the circuit completly. Be sure to have all the plugs out and check for spark on all cylinders. You can actually do this test first.

[Valv]

You can isolate the key switch and kill switch by unplugging the wire harness at the engine and using a remote jumper switch at the solenoid to crank the engine and look for spark. The yellow wire with the red tracer is the start terminal. Its a ground to kill system and by disconnecting the harness, you open the circuit completly. Be sure to have all the plugs out and check for spark on all cylinders. You can actually do this test first.

I would do this first too, it will isolate any issue with remote/ignition switch/kill switch.

Your outboard is always "on" until you plug in the main harness. This means if you crank it while disconnected it will start, but BEWARE it will not shut off, be sure to have water hose running and muffs hooked up before any attempt. Best way to shut it off is closing choke plates manually, or reconnect the main plug, or if all else fails disconnect fuel line and let it run out of fuel.

[bobbymalone]

All 3 cylinders lost spark??

I only checked one cylinder, but the engine doesn't even try to sputter so I would think all three are not getting spark.

Alright, I am NOOB here so bear with me.

There coil per plug, right? The likelihood of all three failing simultaneously seems low. A failed charge coil in the stator would prevent spark for all cylinders, correct? So would a kill switch failure or a bad power pack (which i didn't even think of).

yes there are a lot of questions in there that are phrased like statements.

Thanks guys.

[bobbymalone]

boat problems 0, boatfixer 1

tested everything except the kill switch and made a gamble with a new power pack... problem solved. up and running again.

THANKS!