1966 18hp Evinrude won't start ! Help !

[FishinFool2002]

Hi and thank you all so much for running this board ! We have just purchased a 1966 18hp Evinrude. It had been sitting for a year. Got it home and changed the impeller. That night we got it started by pull start. Fired, spit sputter, lots of cob webs and little bugs came out of it. Lots of smoke ! But no water coming out. So we shut it down found water in gear oil. Then changed water pump shaft seal and spaghetti seal and oring on the prop shaft. Then replaced battery cables, hooked up ignition switch. Now it cranks like heck but won't even begin to start. Can't figure out what we did wrong. Could we have knocked something out of wack by starting it the night before? There is a kill switch that that has 2 wires and then branches off to 2 wires that are not attached to anything other 2 look like they are going up to magneto. We got good spark, tried spraying the carb with fuel mixture and it did nothing. Ok Guys I hope you can help us ! Thanks for listening to this long winded guestion.<br />kill switch?<br />carb?<br />something internal?

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: 1966 18hp Evinrude won't start ! Help !

I don't see what working on the lower unit would do to prevent the engine from firing. Or how running it for a few seconds without it overheating and stalling would harm it.<br />If you have sparks, it's not the kill switch. The kill switch connects those two wires together, which kills spark. You can do the same by connecting the two loose ends together. Or by touching those two loose ends against anything metal on the outboard. Do your sparks jump a 3/8" gap?<br />Did you remove the spark plugs? I take it they weren't submerged in gasoline from rolling the engine over while removing the lower unit, ie flooded?<br />Spark plug leads on the right spark plugs? Are you sure?

 

[JB]

Re: 1966 18hp Evinrude won't start ! Help !

Howdy, FF.<br /><br />Check out the "Outboard wont start" article in the Engine FAQ section.

 

[FishinFool2002]

Re: 1966 18hp Evinrude won't start ! Help !

Hi Paul, wasn't sure if we caused any damage while trying to start it, after we worked on lower unit. Plug wires are on correctly, plugs had a good blue spark, I've even replaced them today and still the same blue spark. I've held my thumb over plug hole with clean paper towel. Good compression, but not a trace of fuel on towel! Agh !!!!! I've checked the fuel coming out of pump, its coming out. But the line that runs from pump to carb, if I blow in it should the force of air push whatever fuel is in line through to the carb? When I blew in it the air or fuel went nowhere! I can take the other end off of the carb, but I will never get it back on. Unless I remove carb. I think that is my next step unfortunatly. I've tried cranking and spraying fuel mixture in carb Nope ! Then wd40 and nothing ! Really appreciate all you guys help! We really WANT to go fishing this weekend!

 

[Xcusme]

Re: 1966 18hp Evinrude won't start ! Help !

FishinFool2002,<br />Removing the fuel line from the pump and blowing thru the hose will force fuel into the carb only if the carb is empty. If the carb is full, the float and needle valve will seal the incomming fuel line. Perhaps thats the problem, if the float and needle valve are stuck in the closed position, fuel won't enter the carb. It's a mystery as to why she won't fire, even for a short time by spraying fuel mix into the carb throat. I would remove and clean/inspect the carb at any rate, paying attention to the float and needle seat assembly. A can of carb spray, followed by compressed air couldn't hurt either.<br />Post back on your findings.

 

[FishinFool2002]

Re: 1966 18hp Evinrude won't start ! Help !

Update: I sprayed carb cleaner into the carb while cranking, and got a few backfires and that's it. I've never been so excited about backfiring. Anyway, still will not start. What do you think. Thanks again, Nancy

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: 1966 18hp Evinrude won't start ! Help !

I'm with Xcusme - it's a clogged up carb. Test and clean it up like he says and order a new carb kit for it. The OEM one (Bombardier) includes a new plastic float, and if you carb has an old cork float, it would be a good idea to replace it.<br /><br />Carb kit OEM PN 439071 (you can get one from the dealer or here.)<br />Carb kit Aftermarket PN 18-7043 (you can get one from NAPA autoparts or Iboats)<br /> <br />By the way, WD-40 down in the 'States has had its propellant changed from propane to CO2 for the last few years. If it's not a really old can, it isn't much of a starting fluid as it will stall not start an engine. Too bad for you folks - it was a really good starting fluid. <br /><br />Backfiring is a sign of bad timing, and is usually caused by having the spark plug leads reversed. It's almost impossible to seriously throw off the timing on these old Johnny/Rudes. You would have to take off the flywheel, adjust the points, and then modify the flywheel's keyway. So it's unlikely that's your problem.<br /><br />Good luck!

 

[FishinFool2002]

Re: 1966 18hp Evinrude won't start ! Help !

Hey Paul ! Thank you so much for your help!<br />We ordered the parts from you all for overnight shipping. Hopefully we will get it tomorrow and have the boat running then or Friday ! Thanks again!

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: 1966 18hp Evinrude won't start ! Help !

Oh, dumb oversight -<br />Is the armature plate turning freely as you advance throttle? This is the thing mounted directly underneath the flywheel which has the ignition coils mounted to it and such. If that was stuck you might get backfiring/non starting. Depending on where it's stuck.<br />It's backfiring loudly out the exhaust right? Not a sneeze through the carb?<br /><br />PS - I don't sell parts. <br />EDIT: Ooooh, you mean Iboats....

 

[FishinFool2002]

Re: 1966 18hp Evinrude won't start ! Help !

Hey Paul, Yup it is turning. You might not sell parts but you got us to buy from Iboats! I think you should get some kind of commission!? LOL

 

[FishinFool2002]

Re: 1966 18hp Evinrude won't start ! Help !

Update and good news: Got the carb kit this morning, rebuilt the carb, replaced fuel line, and it fired right up. Took a few times to keep it running though. Seems to start fairly easy now. Next problem, it is missing pretty bad. It doesnt matter if at idle/half/full throttle. Spark plugs are gapped correctly. Any more thoughts?

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: 1966 18hp Evinrude won't start ! Help !

Ok, you need to make sure both spark will jump at least a 3/8" gap. There's a fairly common problem with these older Johnsons where the ignition coil's insulation cracks. Often it's not a problem at pull-start speeds, but when the revs pick up - even at idle - they arc over through the cracks and cause a miss. It's no big deal if this is the problem - new coils are pretty cheap owing to the fact that they were used on the majority of OMC outboards for 30 years.<br /><br />You can get spark gap testers at most auto tool stores. Or you can rig up something yourself. I've got an old spark plug attached to a board, and a post 3/8" away.<br />Actually, it's a bit techyer than that, but you get the idea. <br /><br />Note to Iboats management - I like this snazzy new software!

 

[FishinFool2002]

Re: 1966 18hp Evinrude won't start ! Help !

Looking in the troubleshooting part of the manual, we kinda decided that we may have to replace the coil. We are going to the marina in the morning and hopefully they have the coil. Taking the boat to an auto crafts place so we can get the tool to take the flywheel off. Will post results hopefully tomorrow. Thanks again.

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: 1966 18hp Evinrude won't start ! Help !

There's two coils, one for each cylinder. Iboats sells them (pn 18-5181) for around $15. NAPA autoparts will sell them for around the same. Same part number.<br /><br />Make sure the flywheel puller pulls on the three bolt holes around the hub. If one that pulls the rim of the flywheel is used, it will destroy the flywheel.

 

[FishinFool2002]

Re: 1966 18hp Evinrude won't start ! Help !

Ok, we finally got the flywheel off and replaced the coils and the condensors. Checked gear oil, Milky! We got a new prop shaft seal, We replaced the water pump oring wp shaft seal (spring side towards gear oil, right?) prop shaft oring and spaghetti seal and got orings for the bolts. Is there anything else we should look for? Thanks again for your help!

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: 1966 18hp Evinrude won't start ! Help !

Geeze - you're going to town on this thing. <br />Spring in the oil is correct. For both seals. <br />I don't see the shift-shaft seal in there. You need a special tool to remove the brass shift-shaft seal bushing. Best plan here is to get a dealer to tap it out for you.

 

[Ben Konopacky]

Re: 1966 18hp Evinrude won't start ! Help !

I would check two more items,1-new gaskets on the oil plugs,2-pressure check l/u since you pulled it twice..

 

[FishinFool2002]

Re: 1966 18hp Evinrude won't start ! Help !

Thanks Guys, but we have ANOTHER daggone issue!<br /> It appears the prop shaft has been dancing in the housing causing rub marks where the fwd gear is and at the front bearing! Something is lose in there. So far I've noticed a thrust washer missing. Still trying to get the seal out! What a bear! Thanks again, will start again in AM