Need Help with a 1963 Evinrude 5.5HP

[SCLuckyDawg]

My 1963 Evinrude 5.5HP will not start. It has been setting for about two years. Seems to be getting fuel up to the carb. Seems to have a spark. But it will not even give a sign of turning over. I am not much of a mechanic but take instruction well.

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: Need Help with a 1963 Evinrude 5.5HP

At this point, I would say a dirty carb. It would need to be taken apart, and cleaned. Seem's like some spark could mean anything, it should jump at least a 1/4" gap.

 

[SCLuckyDawg]

Re: Need Help with a 1963 Evinrude 5.5HP

I could see a small white spark if I took the plug out and pulled the rope. What do you mean by a 1/4 gap? Do you need special tools to take the carb apart and clean?

 

[freddyray21]

Re: Need Help with a 1963 Evinrude 5.5HP

sounds like weak spark which can be just dirty points. What he is saying is if you hold the end of the plug wire 1/4 from a good ground you should see bright blue spark all the way to ground. Pull the flywheel and take a look at the coils. If they are cracked they can still be firing, but not hot enough. They will need replaced. Also clean and regap the points.

 

[Evinrude Boater]

Re: Need Help with a 1963 Evinrude 5.5HP

You can take the 7/16 hex bolt out of the float bowl and see if any gas comes out. If not pump the bulb and see if gas comes out. The main needle valve may be stuck closed after sitting so long. All the gas may have evaporated leaving the bowl dry. When you pump the fuel bulb it will firm up but no gas will enter the bowl with the needle valve stuck. You might even blow compressed air into the fuel line to blow the needle valve loose instead of disassembling the carburetor. Really, you should clean the carb out if it has sat for so long. No special tools are required, it's primative.

 

[SCLuckyDawg]

Re: Need Help with a 1963 Evinrude 5.5HP

It has a glass bowl and i see it fill up. I will take your advice on the plugs, points, and carb. i am sure i will be back to ask questions. Need to get this thing running it was my father's, he had it in perfect condition but it sat for these extend time while he was ill. It's fishin time in the carolinas. thank you for the advice.

 

[Evinrude Boater]

Re: Need Help with a 1963 Evinrude 5.5HP

I think the glass bowl is only a sight glass before the carburetor, not the carburetor float bowl. I don't know for sure. My 65 5hp doesn't have a glass bowl.

 

[Grem]

Re: Need Help with a 1963 Evinrude 5.5HP

When you removed the plug after pulling the rope, was there any sign of gas on it? If it were me, I'd squirt a little fresh gasoil directly into the cylinder(s) replace the plugs and see if it fires.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Need Help with a 1963 Evinrude 5.5HP

the glass bowl contains the fuel filter element and as far as I know is just there to look and see if any gunk is in there and possibly getting into the carb. Just because it fills up doesn't necessarily mean your float bowl is filling. Save yourself some trouble and buy a spark tester at autozone for 6 bucks and make sure the spark will jump the 1/4 inch gap as was said. Then rebuild your carb and replace your water pump impeller for insurance. You'll probably be fine then. I'd also squirt some fuel mix into the carb throat as said before just to see if it would try to start and if so, might even clean my carb first and see what happened. Replace those old fuel lines, too. Those are good ol' motors!
Good luck,
JBJ

 

[Bear 45/70]

Re: Need Help with a 1963 Evinrude 5.5HP

When you removed the plug after pulling the rope, was there any sign of gas on it? If it were me, I'd squirt a little fresh gasoil directly into the cylinder(s) replace the plugs and see if it fires.

Do not squirt fuel into the cylinder Poor practice at best. By the time fuel reaches the cylinder it is mostly atomized and raw liquid fuel is a no-no. Squirt fuel into the carb throttle bore with the throttle held at WOT (will have to be in gear to get WOT). Then return throttle to start position (in neutral now) and pull the engine over.

 

[Grem]

Re: Need Help with a 1963 Evinrude 5.5HP

^^^^

Yes, I admit it's not usually good practice.

I certainly should have mentioned to spin the motor over before replacing the plugs to remove any excess. I have found the residual fuel film is able to vaporize and detonate once the plugs are replaced and this can be helpful if you suspect a carb problem.

 

[Shizzy]

Re: Need Help with a 1963 Evinrude 5.5HP

can we assume you drained the tank and the carb and are using fresh gas and not the 2+ year old gas?

 

[James R]

Re: Need Help with a 1963 Evinrude 5.5HP

All of the responses are very good,but.
Starting at the beginning.
Shoot some Marvel Mystery Oil into the plug holes to help free up and lub the rings.
Check the compressions and if they are good then we have something to work with.
The Carb must be removed, disassembled and cleaned and reset correctly. Non of this spray so called Carb Cleaner. Use the proper stuff. Remember if the carb fails to perform then the motor gets no lub.
Check for good sparks from the plug wires. These plug wires have a bad habit of coroding and making lousy connections. Carefull inpection and continuity tests are required. Replace if neccessary.
If the sparks are bad after ensuring that the wires are good then the points and coils will need attention.
Replace the plugs making sure that they are the correct type.
Be sure you use fresh fuel and add Stabil to keep it fresh.
With a little luck it will run.
Dont let it run too long and overheat. Chances are that the water pump needs a new impeller. This should be replaced along with the lower unit oil anyway. You can almost guaranty that the old impeller will fail.
Good luck.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: Need Help with a 1963 Evinrude 5.5HP

All of the responses are very good,but.
Starting at the beginning.
Shoot some Marvel Mystery Oil into the plug holes to help free up and lub the rings.
Check the compressions and if they are good then we have something to work with.
The Carb must be removed, disassembled and cleaned and reset correctly. Non of this spray so called Carb Cleaner. Use the proper stuff. Remember if the carb fails to perform then the motor gets no lub.
Check for good sparks from the plug wires. These plug wires have a bad habit of coroding and making lousy connections. Carefull inpection and continuity tests are required. Replace if neccessary.
If the sparks are bad after ensuring that the wires are good then the points and coils will need attention.
Replace the plugs making sure that they are the correct type.
Be sure you use fresh fuel and add Stabil to keep it fresh.
With a little luck it will run.
Dont let it run too long and overheat. Chances are that the water pump needs a new impeller. This should be replaced along with the lower unit oil anyway. You can almost guaranty that the old impeller will fail.
Good luck.

somewhat of a shotgun approach. it may be all of these things will need to be done, but don't fix what doesn't need to be fixed. First check compression that is a no brainer, but from what he is stating the spark seems weak. I have taken many of these old motors and just by dressing the points had a good running motor. the carb often, but not always needs to come apart and be cleaned. Fix the spark first then see.

 

[Shizzy]

Re: Need Help with a 1963 Evinrude 5.5HP

I would lean more towards fuel. Mainly due to him saying it was running great before his dad stored it.

Even though he says its getting fuel, does that mean its good fuel? and the proper amount of fuel? I dont know how many Lawn mowers or snow blowers I have "fixed" simply by draining out the old (sometimes only weeks old) fuel and refilling with fresh.

before we have him pop the flywheel off I would like him to verify he is using fresh gas and the proper mix.

 

[Bear 45/70]

Re: Need Help with a 1963 Evinrude 5.5HP

I agree with the bad fuel crowd. Drain the tank, fresh fuel, 89 octane to be safe. New oil at 50:1 and flush the fuel line, fuel pump and carb. It just might run without having to do a carb rebuild.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: Need Help with a 1963 Evinrude 5.5HP

I could see a small white spark if I took the plug out and pulled the rope. What do you mean by a 1/4 gap? Do you need special tools to take the carb apart and clean?

white spark is weak spark. blue spark is strong spark. white spark won't fire the cylinders. blue will.

 

[asdasc]

Re: Need Help with a 1963 Evinrude 5.5HP

On a 1963, wouldn't it be closer to 24:1 with the oil?

Also, how careful does he have to be checking the spark without that tester? I have always been afraid of them and hold the plug wire with needle nose pliers with insulating grips.

 

[Bear 45/70]

Re: Need Help with a 1963 Evinrude 5.5HP

On a 1963, wouldn't it be closer to 24:1 with the oil?

Also, how careful does he have to be checking the spark without that tester? I have always been afraid of them and hold the plug wire with needle nose pliers with insulating grips.

The only reason for the 24:1 oil use was the quality of oil. Any 24:1 motor will work fine using todays TCW-II or III oils. And smoke a lot less and polute less too.

 

[asdasc]

Re: Need Help with a 1963 Evinrude 5.5HP

Yeah, but all that extra oil in the lake keeps my seawall from rusting, the weeds from growing, and the mosquitos at bay!

Just kidding! I am doing my small part to protect the environment.

(although those are compelling arguments!)