1973 Evinrude 135HP random starting..

[4barrel]

Got a 135hp outboard that started friday, saturday, sunday,. no prob first crank.
Runs great got idle down on friday abit as it was very high and I know I moved the cables while rebuilding the carbs. Had It purring like a kitten with muffs on.
Fired up all day. Fired up on sat. morning with these settings also on sunday all day.
Today it won't fire, Well it did for few seconds, I had the line off, seemed to just run out of gas. put line on won't fire at all. if I choke it enough fuel will seep out the front off carbs. so must be getting fuel from tank to carbs, pump screen is new.
This isn't the first time, this has been happening for over a month and a half, off and on. one day fires next 2 not and so on. But never does fire at all on days it won't.
I try to find the "pattern" when it runs, things like when I leave it I try to disconnect fuel line, fire up maybe with choke, warm up lever can almost always be down (off). Get it fired first shot connect fuel line.
I had reason to belive it was flooding...
But I'm just grasping now.
Rebuilt Carbs.
Rebuilt starter and new drive,
New Battery on a charger.
New CD box
Got good comp. and got spark.
New flywheel key.
New High octane fuel (no ethenol)
Tried disconnecting the kill wire.
New plugs
Was supossed to drag out camping for a week on sunday now starting this again.

 

[whalerfreak22]

Re: 1973 Evinrude 135HP random starting..

what i suggest is getting a new fuel pump or rebuild it

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1973 Evinrude 135HP random starting..

are you getting spark the days it will not start?

 

[ezeke]

Re: 1973 Evinrude 135HP random starting..

Even if the fuel pump did not work at all, squeezing the primer bulb would fill the float bowls so that the engine would start if everything else was correct. That's not the problem unless you are not squeezing the primer bulb.

My bet would be that your choke plates are not 100% closed for your initial cold start, so that once you have it warmed up the engine will continue to start but you go back to the same problem when the engine is cold.

If you take the cover off the carburetors and watch what's happening while the engine is cranked, you will be able to see if the plates are staying fully closed until the engine fires up.

If you have not disabled the automatic choke function, you should. Click the thumbnail twice, please.

 

[4barrel]

Re: 1973 Evinrude 135HP random starting..

The pump crossed my mind but agree with Whalerfreak and the carb seem to be getting gas, (leaks out during extended choking).
Also every time I fire it up "NEVER" touched primer bulb. When I hook up line I can actually hear the fuel rush into carbs. (the one tank I am using, has no vent. Just a cap and johnson line hookup.
I have checked that the auto choke is bypassed, it is.
The choke plates are closed all the way, and have adjusted the for good measure. The bottom butterfly seems to "bounce" a little. But I have also held them fully closed.
I have even shot some fuel in the carbs still no go.
I noticed the starter drive was stuck last night in engaged position. (new gear) so picked up a new spring and spacer, to install tonight.
Also scored a Stevens instruments DVA adapter to borrow till weekend. And my new Digital multimeter also has a "hold' funtion. So will try to get some #'s
I have done a ohms test and mostly in spec.
Also found my old adjustable spark gap tester, so hope to get the 1/2'' spark I long for.

 

[4barrel]

Re: 1973 Evinrude 135HP random starting..

Sorry forgot,
Yes the days it won't run I do seem to get spark on the plugs grounded to block.
There was a time in prior post that I had no spark with all plugs in. I removed all plugs and had spark due to motor spinning faster. Thats when I rebuilt starter and boom she fired up.
Took it out to lake 2 mondays ago and no fire all day.
Replaced chipped/broken gear on friday BOOM no choke, no primer, no line connected, no idle lever, But the idle was high a cables so....
I still think it could be a bad/weak trigger but not buying one till I know for sure.
If had choice would prefer stator LOL jut a good reason to use higher output coil.
No matter both are very very expensive, not something you buy as a guess.

 

[4barrel]

Re: 1973 Evinrude 135HP random starting..

Wouldn't start again today... Till I changed the return spring on starter drive gear, so it doesn't jamb engaged, Stopping the flywheel from spinning free on its own.
Changed spring and Boom first shot.
WTF????
I dunno if I'm happy or sad, knowing it may disappoint me by not starting. tomorrow or worse yet when I get to lake on sunday.

 

[4barrel]

Re: 1973 Evinrude 135HP random starting..

Well the gear was sticking up again today. Got it loose then no starting today.
Of course it started raining so didn't get a chance to do dva test.
#$&%# Pardon my french.

 

[4barrel]

Re: 1973 Evinrude 135HP random starting..

I hae had boat running but seems to decide what days it will fire.
I ended up using a Stevens instrumenst DVA adapter and new digital meter.
My stator brown to brown/yellow wires I got,
615 ohms on pack
DVA was 315v Now my confusion is here I had my meter set to 1000 DC scale?
This reading was same connected and diconnested from pack
Those appear to be in spec.

The trigger resistance is 10 ohm on the sensor #1 to #3 and the same for #2 to #4.
DVA - this one is where I am really lost. What setting do I use on meter? Thought if it is only .5v and up would use the 200m or 2 setting? Also this adapter has a Low volt option, should I be using this side of adapter?
On the 1 to 3 connected to pack I get 38.2 (on 200m setting)
.035 (on "2" scale)
So would that actually be 0.38v?
#2 to #4 connected to pack is 70.2 (on 200m scale)
.070 (on "2" scale)
That would be 0.70v???

There is another test about DVA on orange wires from powerpack while connected to coils should see about 150v or more. Don't understand if I test from any 2 orange wires or one & ground, either way I have nothing when hooked up to pack. And right now no spark on any cyl.

 

[OldNBold51]

Re: 1973 Evinrude 135HP random starting..

It's been 10 years since I had my 115 Evinrude, but i knew it well since I owned it since '73. isn't this motor a magneto motor? The faster you spun it on start, the hotter the spark. When my battery or my starter were not up to standard, I couldn't start that thing for nothing. In a pinch, I'd tie a ski rope to the flywheel, wrap it around the flywheel, and while someone turned the key , I'd yank the rope. It'd start over 90% of the time.

 

[CharlieB]

Re: 1973 Evinrude 135HP random starting..

The starter drive staying up when the motor does not start is NOT a problem and is a regular event with most ALL outboard.

Slow cranking speed is a very real problem, and telling the difference between good/slow cranking is difficult without a reliable Inductive pick-up tach such as a 'Mini Tach'

I suspect that you still have a problem with the starter, if ALL battery cable connections (including the lead between the relay and starter) are bright and tight, battery passes a load test and is fully charged, then retest spark with the tester set to 1/2 inch leaving the spark plugs IN so the starter load is still there.

If you do find a 'No Spark' then check cranking voltage at the starter, if it low use battery jumper cables directly from the battery to the starter, by-passing the starter rely, if it now cranks fast enough for spark then the relay contacts are at fault, otherwise, get back into the starter.

 

[4barrel]

Re: 1973 Evinrude 135HP random starting..

Thanks CharlieB
So on the days it does run, could a guy use the dva tester to read what values are on a good day?
I need to return adapter to guy that borrowd it to me, but seems to start last 3 days. It may not tell me anything I need to know but will it hurt anything?
I do think your right about prob still being a starter/cranking issue. So the solenoid can be bad but still allow motor to crank fairly well? I was wondering about that cause I know ford (piece of crap) starter soleniods look alot like that one, (famous for start today but not next). But thought it won't crank or just click click click?
We are dragging out to lake again on Sunday. Will have a week to "play" with it.
Just let it run once on the water.
Another question about the tank I have... No seperate vent on cap, just the johnson fitting.. Do I crack the cap open on this tank? My guess was to run it see if it starts to suck tank in then it would need a seperate vent right?