1988 Evinrude 60 VRO with no spark

[jshrum]

Greetings,

I bought a boat the summer before I built my house. Big mistake...took almost 2 years to build the house! So, it didn't run for over 2 years. The engine is a 1988 Evinrude 60 VRO and it will crank but has no spark at any of the 3 cylinders. Not sure where to start checking. I've been looking at the power pack, but not sure how to test if that's it or if that's where I should actually be beginning in my troubleshooting. Is there a way to test a power pack?

Any help would be appreciated...it was running like a champ on an Eagle 351 before being put in the garage during the build.

Thank you,

Jeff

 

[guy74]

Re: 1988 Evinrude 60 VRO with no spark

The first thing I would do is unplug the large red plug that goes to the controls. Then crank the motor by jumping the solinoid. If it has spark doing this the problem is in the control or wireing in the boat. Or your lanyard switch is missing, might want to check that first.

 

[jshrum]

Re: 1988 Evinrude 60 VRO with no spark

Thank you Guy74. With the large red connecter disconnected it does indeed have fire...in fact it started. Surprised me although it shouldn't have...this engine was easy starting every time I took it out.

Ok, where does that leave me? I don't remember any lanyard, and I believe I would. But to be sure I'm understanding you, when you say lanyard switch do you mean something that would go around your wrist and when pulled (like if you fell overboard) it kills the engine? I don't remember anything like that at all and to turn off the engine, I remember just turning the key off.

Think there's a short somewhere between the ignition switch and that red connecter or between that red connecter and the plugs?

Thank you again...

 

[guy74]

Re: 1988 Evinrude 60 VRO with no spark

If you have the 1988 controls they should have a lanyard safety switch. A small plastic clip attached to the lanyard holds a small button on the switch depressed. look on the side of the control, there should be a small plastic shield with a push in type switch under it, if you hold the button in and the motor runs you've found your problem.

 

[jshrum]

Re: 1988 Evinrude 60 VRO with no spark

Again...thank you.

I've got to say I owe you a beer or a cigar or something! There has never been a lanyard, but I found what you were talking about and it worked. The boat started and ran just fine with me holding that button in. When I let loose, the boat continued to run for a couple of seconds and then quit.

I believe I know how this happened. When I got the boat out this year I naturally cleaned it because it had sat for so long. When I got to the controls I saw what looked like a grease fitting with all kinds of dried crud around it. I cleaned out the "crud" and that is the button you're speaking of. I believe now that the last owner rigged it to not have a lanyard. That's actually ok with me, but if I now have to fix it, would you say that this is what I should be getting?

Replacement Lanyard Evinrude Johnson replacement lanyard for emergency stop switches. Used in original equipment and accessory control boxes. 1995 and older. Part Number: 0432230

 

[guy74]

Re: 1988 Evinrude 60 VRO with no spark

Yep that should get you going, if you aren't likely to use the lanyard you can either cut the cord off the peice that holds the button in or tuck the cord around behind the control/somewhere out of the way. BTW I told you that you needed to use it. , so I don't get smited from the forum

 

[guy74]

Re: 1988 Evinrude 60 VRO with no spark

they also have lanyards at Walmart, in the boat stuff in sporting goods, they have the ends for several different types of controls, if you need one quickly.
BTW: fill in your profile so we know where your at, there might be a helping hand from this forum just down the street, but we don't know where you are.

 

[jshrum]

Re: 1988 Evinrude 60 VRO with no spark

I will buy one and most certainly use it as is suggested by the manufacturer.

I just came back in from running it for a while. Running very well. Now just need to get it out on the water!

Thank you so much...