Evinrude 9.9 4 stroke won’t stay running, need some expert help

[Mi_fiveo]

I have a 1999 Evinrude 9.9 4 stroke that I’m trying to install for my kicker motor. The guy I bought it from said it wouldn’t stay running and needs a new carb kit. After getting it all hooked up and adjusted as close as I can follow the manual, I’m having a hard time getting it to run. If I push the choke in and turn the key it will not fire at all. If I turn the key a million times without pushing the choke in, it will occasionally fire up for just a second. If it does start to run, I can lift the choke lever and it seems to run decent but it will always quit running after 20-30 seconds. I had it running at one point but when I tried to lower the choke lever it died out. I pumped the primer bulb as it was dying and it made no difference. The bulb was hard and full of gas.
With all the times I have tried to start it, gas is dripping from the tube in the back. I tried to check for spark by grounding a plug and watching. It did not spark most of the time but a did see a few quick flashes intermittently. Any ideas to help me problem solve this motor? I’m leaning torwards a loss of spark more than an engine starving for fuel, but i could be way off base.

 

[boobie]

Your spark should jump a 3/8" open air gap on a spark tester. Checking on a spark plug means nothing !!

 

[Mi_fiveo]

Thanks for the info, I’ll pick up a real spark tester tomorrow and see. I’m determined to diagnose and fix this thing.

 

[Mi_fiveo]

I made a spark tester out of a nail and a piece of wire clamped to the engine. The spark seemed to jump the second I turned the key then nothing until I released the key and then another spark. Might just be in my head and I was holding it so my hand could of moved but I tried several times and seemed to have the same result.

 

[boobie]

Good Luck !!

 

[Mi_fiveo]

I’ll get a real spark tester and try again tomorrow. If it shows that I only get a quick spark when I turn the key and again when I release the key, what could that mean? Faulty key switch? Bad wiring?

 

[DECK SWABBER 58]

Your spark should jump a 3/8" open air gap on a spark tester. Checking on a spark plug means nothing !!

If it won't do this while cranking read the "top secret sticky file" at the top of this forum. Is your battery/starter cranking the motor fast enough?

 

[Mi_fiveo]

I'll get back to checking spark later today. My forward controls are OMC and look like the ones in the manual but there is no safety switch on them. I wonder if the previous owner tried to remove them and that is somehow grounding the motor out?

 

[Mi_fiveo]

Here is my control box. There is no safety switch and under the key there is a 3 prong plug where nothing is attached. What am I missing??

 

[Mi_fiveo]

Took the control box apart and the wire from the safety switch was cut off and had a piece of electrical tape over it. I put a wire nit over it so it can’t ground out. It made no difference in the engine. Using a spark tester, I have a touch of spark when I turn the key and then nothing, it just cranks. When I release the key I get a touch of spark and the engine turns over for a second before dying. Does that sound like a faulty key switch or is it a failing coil? I don’t think anything is grounding out and cutting the spark. I have a multimeter to test if someone can help me out.