No spark 55 HP Evinrude triumph 1969

[Mc Tool]

Ha ! I been thinkin about this spring and the whole not running backwards . Something 2/ with its timing set close to tdc will run backwards quite well if it starts on a backfire so I do see the point in having that spring .
I recall myself and some mates camping over easter at the Waimatuku river mouth and one of the bikes was a 250cc 2 / and by accident we discovered ( stalled it ½ way up a hill and rolled backwards )that it would run backwards, the hillarity and injuries that followed as we took turn at trying to ride round ( remember the )backwards were a real hoot .
Sometime later I find myself in a shed with my uncle who at the time was leaning over the handle bars revving the 5hit out of a BSA Bantham in preparation of dropping the clutch and burning out ......well the fn thing took off backwards , the back wheel hit some junk at the base of the wall and the bike climbed up the wall backwards and tipped right over and landed upside down on him . Ranks with one of the funniest things I ever saw .

 

[sad boater]

Just an update. I have reassembled the top of the engine after cleaning and adjusting the points (0.010) replaced plug wires and I repaired a few wires along the stator to rectifier area.. no luck. I still have zero spark. I did both the tap test and the voltage test (found in repair manual) it's pretty clear now that the amplifier is not doing its job. Anyone who might just be joining both the rectifier and ignition coil are new.

Does anyone have any other ideas before I spend $400 on a tiny little box?

 

[Mc Tool]

Just an update. I have reassembled the top of the engine after cleaning and adjusting the points (0.010) replaced plug wires and I repaired a few wires along the stator to rectifier area.. no luck. I still have zero spark. I did both the tap test and the voltage test (found in repair manual) it's pretty clear now that the amplifier is not doing its job. Anyone who might just be joining both the rectifier and ignition coil are new.

Does anyone have any other ideas before I spend $400 on a tiny little box?

Make one .....seriously, taint nuffin sofistikated

 

[sad boater]

Make one .....seriously, taint nuffin sofistikated

Ok..... In what world is this a not sophisticated???? Has anyone been in one of these??? I see a spot near the bottom where the rubber seems to have melted away. I'd hate to waste my money on something that isn't bad.

 

[Crosbyman]

like it or not smart enough or not your corner mecaninc but you may want to try asking ChatGpt about the innards and options to proceed.
it will search the world for you
and maybe come up with a way out


B.O.A.T. break out another thousand they say...

 

[sad boater]

Hey, I know you know this engine. I just noticed that the installed amplifier is actually for the 85-100 HP motor the part number is one digit off from what it says mine is supposed to be. Can anyone tell me the difference between the two? 389550 vs 389549

Thanks in advance

 

[Mc Tool]

Ok..... In what world is this a not sophisticated???? Has anyone been in one of these??? I see a spot near the bottom where the rubber seems to have melted away. I'd hate to waste my money on something that isn't bad.

Ok ,I see your point . I wouldnt loose sleep over the rubber ....it does deteriorate with age . There is not a lot you can do for the rubber , with stuff like that I give it a good wash with isopropyl alcohol and pack a bit of silicone (Selley's All Clear is real good for this ) around the area to seal it and give it a bit of mechanical strength.
If it comes to it you can get those encased ( potted) modules un potted so you can get at them to test and repair ,which is all good if you can find a place to do it or supply the solvent .

 

[sad boater]

Ok ,I see your point . I wouldnt loose sleep over the rubber ....it does deteriorate with age . There is not a lot you can do for the rubber , with stuff like that I give it a good wash with isopropyl alcohol and pack a bit of silicone (Selley's All Clear is real good for this ) around the area to seal it and give it a bit of mechanical strength.
If it comes to it you can get those encased ( potted) modules un potted so you can get at them to test and repair ,which is all good if you can find a place to do it or supply the solvent .

I can find any that are not sealed and designed for testing. If you have a place to get them that would be helpful information. The only ones I find are ready to install.

 

[sad boater]

Alright folks, $435 later and now Im waiting for the new amplifier to arrive. I will post the results here afterwards.

 

[68glasspar]

I have some dielectric grease here. It doesn't really show arc symptoms just some black soot I was able to wipe some of it off with a rag. If it was arcing it would have been occurring at all the plug wires. I inspected all the wires boots and the cap for signs of cracks or arcing. None found. At the moment it is still apart.

I went thru this very problem with my 1969 85hp evinrude last year! The info that Crosbyman gave you is top notch. Use it to get you to the point were you get a spark at the coil that will jump a 1/2"gap.
Then i found was spark plug wires this old will need to be replaced due to leakage. I had good spark at the coil but nothing at the plugs. I turned out the shop lights and cranked the engine over. And under the flywheel all the plug wires were shorting out thru the wire boots at the dist. cap and arcing on the stator just like your black marks on your stater. The fix was i fabricated new wires and most important new boots at the cap (dielectric used inside those boots). After that i had spark at the plugs that jumped more than 3/8" gap.
Clean the points, set the gap exactly to specs., make sure you have a solid 12volts input to the module.

 

[sad boater]

???----Type C is the gearcase oil !

I know you are familiar with this motor, I replaced the amplifier. The boat started right up. It ran for a few seconds and shut off. I cannot get it to start again. I checked the voltage to coil from the amplifier and it is there. So I plan on taking the flywheel back off and seeing what's going on. The only thing I didn't replace was the rotor. New plugs, plug wires, distributor rectifier, ignition coil and amplifier. I just don't know what happened. I did finally find a safety switch but it kills the start function not the spark, still cranks just won't fire off. Please kind sir lend me some good advice.

Thank you!

 

[sad boater]

So I thought of that and I did replace the wires I actually ordered some stock replacements brand new place the distributor plugs plug wires the rectifier the ignition coil and I finally did replace the amp fire which made it start but it only started for a few seconds now it's dead again. I do have the power going to the amplifier but I have no idea what happened I did adjust the points when I was in there and it sounded great when it did start but I'm really at a loss

 

[sad boater]

So I thought of that and I did replace the wires I actually ordered some stock replacements brand new place the distributor plugs plug wires the rectifier the ignition coil and I finally did replace the amp fire which made it start but it only started for a few seconds now it's dead again. I do have the power going to the amplifier but I have no idea what happened I did adjust the points when I was in there and it sounded great when it did start but I'm really at a loss

 

[68glasspar]

So it did start and then die and not restart1! when it won't restart, do you still have spark at the plugs? spark should jump 3/8" at the spark plugs. get yourself an adjustable spark gap tester. and get a OE service manual for your engine
If you have 3/8" spark but not start, perhaps clean carbs

 

[68glasspar]

You could try unplugging the round electrical connector on the engine to isolate the engine from the boat wiring. then jumper 12 volts to the power pack and then jumper the starter solenoid to crank it. If it starts and stays running then you might have boat wiring issues

 

[Crosbyman]

spray some fuel in the carb while it cranks... if it fires up you have a fuel flow issue ... cylinder (s) not receiving fuel.

the very worst possibility is that an electrical problem is killing the amplifier (coil) .If so the cause must be found before invetsing more $$$

 

[jimmbo]

And by Fuel, Premix @50:1