Tuff one. 90hp v4 "low spark" ??!!??

serrucho

Cadet
Joined
Mar 3, 2004
Messages
6
Hi. I have a johnson 90 v4 1982. It runs like new. and I use it efvery two weeks (+ or -) however, a couple months ago it started doing something strange. after the 2 week rest, it won´t start. I do the tests and it shows no spark or very little (it had the SP gap too big, solved that), but when I test it with a "spark meter" it sparks but it needs the dots very close together. in other words it has low spark. tha weir thing is that after a few (or a lot) tries it starts, ant then it runs the whole weekend perfectly, it starts right away, even after the night. then the next weekend, the same problem,etc.<br />some guy there told me it was the stator, that got "discharged" which i don´t much believe since he wanted to charge me to fix it. but since it is a solenoid, not a magnet, i shouldnt discharge. <br />anybody has any ideas? <br />thanks for the help
 

rickdb1boat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jan 23, 2002
Messages
11,195
Re: Tuff one. 90hp v4 "low spark" ??!!??

This may be way out there, but do you have a good battery with good cranking?
 

serrucho

Cadet
Joined
Mar 3, 2004
Messages
6
Re: Tuff one. 90hp v4 "low spark" ??!!??

Rick. thanks for answering. i suppose the battery is OK (although is not brand name i think is 55 or 60 watts, 1 and a half years old. could it be the battery, and also the connection to the battery that have a little rust? however, if it its that, haw come after it starts the first time it always starts for the rest of the weekend???
 

rickdb1boat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jan 23, 2002
Messages
11,195
Re: Tuff one. 90hp v4 "low spark" ??!!??

Could be the boat charging system charges it up enough to get you by over the weekend, but when it sits, it discharges. Have the battery load tested if possible and check the voltage the next time you let it sit for a couple of weeks before you crank it. Should be at least 12 Volts. If less, either the battery is bad or something in your electrical system is draining the battery down. Also, clean up any connections that have rust or are corroded. That means from the battery to the selonoid and the ground wire from the battery to the engine ground.
 
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