1976 johnson 25 hp(evil motor)

[roddruiz]

first of all this is my first post so hi everyone.

now my question. i have a 25 hp motor that is killing me. its an old points motor that was recently rebuilt. it has new points and condensers. I've just replaced every wire on the motor including ground straps.
Im getting fuel into the cylinders. Im getting good voltage all the way to the coil wires but i cant seem to get the juice to transfer into the plugs. i cant see a spark for the life of me. I have already made two trips to autozone to get fresh plugs today so that cant be the problem. is there some reason why the spark wouldnt be going through the plugs? im assuming that since the head is bolted onto the block another ground isnt necessary. If i stick a screwdriver in the plug socket and turn the engine over it shocks the sh*& out of me every time. im out of ideas,k please help. Thansks!

 

[14ftgrumman]

Re: 1976 johnson 25 hp(evil motor)

Have you changed out the connectors in the plug wires ? The ones that push onto the top of the plug?

Sounds like the wire isn't connected to the plugs.

 

[roddruiz]

Re: 1976 johnson 25 hp(evil motor)

no i just ordered new coils so ill have new wires with them. i have however tried wrapping the end of the spark plugs with foil to ensure connectivity. but to no avail. ive also tried no foil but with dielectric grease instead, also futile.

 

[roddruiz]

Re: 1976 johnson 25 hp(evil motor)

no i just ordered new coils so ill have new wires with them. i have however tried wrapping the end of the spark plugs with foil to ensure connectivity. but to no avail. ive also tried no foil but with dielectric grease instead, also futile.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: 1976 johnson 25 hp(evil motor)

Could be a lot of things. Foil isn't going to fix it. Careful diagnosis and repair is. Let's start at the beginning. What have you done to test the ignition? If you don't have spark, then you don't have spark.

Could be bad wires. Could be bad coils. Could be dirty or maladjusted points, and that's just the beginning.

So, go through the information. Has this outboard ever run well for you, or did you just get it? What's the compression in the two cylinders? How have you tested the ignition?

We can help. It's a simple system, and the entire ignition system can be replaced for not much more than $100, so let's here what you know and what you've done.

 

[roddruiz]

Re: 1976 johnson 25 hp(evil motor)

well the points are new and properly adjusted to .020. Condensers are also new. Ive sanded both the main ignition coil and the pickups on the flywheel with 800 grit sandpaper. I have replaced the wires leading from the condensers down to the spark coils. Both leads output decent voltage. The connections between these leads and the two coils bolted to the side of the cylinders are new. The coils both seem to be working because if I stick a screwdriver in either plug wire and hold it it will shock me. Feels like sufficient voltage as my arm is starting to hurt. I try to plug the spark plug into the spark plug wire and ground it to the block and nothing, no blue spark and even if i hold the plug and the block it doesn't shock me. And thats where I am now

Oh and no the motor has never run for me. I got it about two years ago and its just sat there until now. Also compression is around 115 and 120 respectively.

 

[roddruiz]

Re: 1976 johnson 25 hp(evil motor)

Also i was wondering when condensers and coils go bad do they just stop working or is their output lessened over time?

 

[Deanrt]

Re: 1976 johnson 25 hp(evil motor)

Man....................... excuse me for LMAO. I have a '76 35 hp that has pushed me to places I would rather not have been. I feel your pain. Sorry I cant help you with this problem as it is about the only one I have not encountered yet. Good luck.

 

[bgbass.1]

Re: 1976 johnson 25 hp(evil motor)

First you should buy a spark tester they are cheap and you wont get shocked

 

[CATransplant]

Re: 1976 johnson 25 hp(evil motor)

Getting shocked from the spark plug wire is no indication of how much spark you have. If it's not even sparking the gap on a grounded spark plug, it's not sparking.

You're on the right track with the new coils and wires. That'll probably take care of your problem, since you've already replaced the points and condensers.

Let us know.