1957 evinrude lightwin 3hp (3024)

[loupis]

hey gurus - i'm stumped.<br /><br />I picked up this motor for cheap and have no idea of the history. <br /><br />FACTS: I have rebuilt the carb with a kit, replaced the coils, points, condensors, sparkplugs, wires, head gasket, exaust gasket and pull cord. (pull cord springs are fun!) I haven't replaced or torn down the water pump yet.<br /><br />PROBLEM - I can't get it to fire at all - I have spark, compressions (though not tested), and a sore sholder now.<br /><br />ideas? (I am pretty new at 2 stroke motors.)<br /><br />--Stuck and spring is on the way - Andrew

 

[Laddies]

Re: 1957 evinrude lightwin 3hp (3024)

Pull the plugs and put a little fuel mix in the cyls, if it fires then try putting some in the carb,if it fires then, you have a carb problem, if it don't ck the reeds, if it don't fire at all then you may have a bad head gasket or weak spark. Ck spark with a plug with the ground electroid cut off if it jumps that the spark is OK

 

[loupis]

Re: 1957 evinrude lightwin 3hp (3024)

I have tried fuel mix in the carb with no luck - i'll try some juice in the cyls tonight and see what happens. I didn't pull the reeds for fear of not finding another gasket.<br /><br />andy

 

[JB]

Re: 1957 evinrude lightwin 3hp (3024)

Hi Loupis.<br /><br />Welcome to iboats. <br /><br />Go to Engine FAQs and read the "Outboard wont start" article.<br /><br />Come back and tell us what you found..<br /><br />Good luck

 

[loupis]

Re: 1957 evinrude lightwin 3hp (3024)

thanks jb <br /><br />I had read through the FAQ and i'm still stumped. I tried a squirt in the carb and no luck there. I then tried some juice in the cylinders and I got 1 quick pop in quite a few tries. Obviously weak spark. My wires are new and I seated them well in the coils (I tested contact with the voltmeter to be sure)<br /><br />Could a coil be seated improperly or what?<br /><br />- stumped

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: 1957 evinrude lightwin 3hp (3024)

I don't know if that's the case - if your capable of drawing a spark longer than 1/4" then there's probably no problem with the ignition system. Did you align the coils carefully with the bosses they sit on?

 

[steelespike]

Re: 1957 evinrude lightwin 3hp (3024)

I believe the rule of thumb is the front coil fires the top plug.Usually if the reeds are bad it will puff out of the carb.You may want to pull the flywheel and check the key.Even if only slightly damaged it cn change the timing.Also check the keyway for wear/damage.

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: 1957 evinrude lightwin 3hp (3024)

Good point - and that is certainly true on your lightwin about the front coil firing the top plug. But if the flywheel key shears, you'll loose spark rather than timing since timing is governed by the cam on the crankshaft rather than the flywheel.

 

[loupis]

Re: 1957 evinrude lightwin 3hp (3024)

Lots of good beta here - thanks<br /><br />The flywheel key looks ok, but I did not align the coils correctly to the boss. I'm giving that a run this morning. (Learning the old fashioned way)<br /><br />Any ideas on measuring spark with 1 hand while pulling starter cord with other hand? (is it really possible by yourself)

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: 1957 evinrude lightwin 3hp (3024)

I think my favoite spark tester is the one Joe Reeves describes. Basically, find three nails with heads that roughly fit the spark plug connectors. Then drive them into a board in a line so there's a 1/4" space between them. Wire the center nail to the engine block, and put the spark plug leads on the two ends.<br />You can also get cheap adjustable spark gap testers from auto parts supply places. Only a couple bucks each.

 

[steelespike]

Re: 1957 evinrude lightwin 3hp (3024)

I guess what I meant was a sheared key throws off the relationship of the flywheel magnets and the coil armatures.<br />Dont forget to check the keyway.<br />Ive had good luck sort of wedging the plug against the head/block.Usually you can find a spot where the wire pulls or pushes the plug against the powerhead.Also on rare occasions I clamp it in place with vice grips or hold it with insulated pliers.You dont have to yank it to check spark just a firm steady stroke.For that matter once set up right it should start with that same firm steady stroke.

 

[loupis]

Re: 1957 evinrude lightwin 3hp (3024)

ok - we got spark!! the nail trick works well.<br />both wires can jump at least 1/4"<br /><br />I didn't have the coils aligned correctly with the boss thingies. <br /><br />I tried juicing the carb - and nothing so I juiced the cylinders and I still get nothing.<br /><br />I would think that aims towards a compression or head gasket problem right?<br /><br />on another note, the carb seems to dribble fuel out the choke hole - would this mean my shutoff/float apparatus isn't adjusted appropriately?<br /><br />thanks for the help out there<br /><br />----- someday i'll be trollin

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: 1957 evinrude lightwin 3hp (3024)

Yes, it indicates that the carburetor is flooding - which could be caused by a misadjusted float or from crud holding the needle off the seat a bit. The float must be adjusted so it is level with the body of the carb when it's held upside-down. When all is well, when the petcock is opened on the tank, no gasoline will flow out the carb (unless the engine is tilted).<br />If you have too much fuel the engine won't fire, just like if you have too little. Is there evidence of fuel in the bucket or whatever you're trying to start this in? It would be really good if you could test compression, but it has to be pretty low for these engines not to run.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: 1957 evinrude lightwin 3hp (3024)

One thing I've noticed on many of the little 3s is that the screen must be in place between the air horn and the carburetor opening. Some will run without it, but most won't. It acts as a partial restrictor, in effect "choking" the motor a bit and richening up the mixture. Those motors don't draw a lot of air through the venturi and (I was told by a longtime mech) the screens were used to richen the mixture a bit. In my own experience, the motors start better and run better with the screens in place...<br /><br />- Scott

 

[loupis]

Re: 1957 evinrude lightwin 3hp (3024)

Maybe mine is missing, but this motor doesn't have a screen. <br /><br />I'll be reseting the head gasket and checking the compression tonight - I had to find a compression gauge. <br /><br />Any notes on setting the float? I set it horizontal and used the spring on the inlet needle that came with the carb kit, but I think in getting it horizontal I set it so the needle can't close.<br /><br />andy

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: 1957 evinrude lightwin 3hp (3024)

Bend the float tab after the needle, and make sure that the tab never hits anything other than the needle. The little spring afair for the needle isn't stock, but I think it's a good idea - especially on gravity fed engines like your 3hp.<br />On the completely adjustable carbs, getting the float set perfectly isn't such a big deal. You can compensate for any little error with the rich/lean controls.<br />That little screen that went in front of the carb is often found missing from these engines - I think a lot of people removed them looking for more power. But it really just makes the engine run lousy, especially in the mid-range. That's been my experience anyway.

 

[loupis]

Re: 1957 evinrude lightwin 3hp (3024)

Well, I reset the head gasket and tapped out a couple of the threads that were stripped and now I have good compression. also - I found some gunk under the inlet needle and now the carb isn't flooding. I noticed mounts for the screen but it's been gone for a while. <br /><br />I have good spark but still it won't fire. The cyl and carb test both failed.<br /><br />Maybe it's time to move on - I can see why it's sat silent for so many years.

 

[JB]

Re: 1957 evinrude lightwin 3hp (3024)

Moving this to Johnson & Evinrude troubles.

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: 1957 evinrude lightwin 3hp (3024)

What did the compression test reveal?

 

[RPJS]

Re: 1957 evinrude lightwin 3hp (3024)

Hi Loupis<br />Have you got the plug leads on the right way, if you have a spark and you have added fule to the cylinder thru the spark plug hole the only thing that can be wrong is that the spark is not happening at the right time. Try the test again after changing the plug leads around.