1976 55hp Evinrude running on 1 cylinder

[Alleykat0498]

Here goes

Bought the boat middle of last week, after about 3 hours of goofing around with my voltmeter I found the short the previous owner couldnt, fixed it and she fired right up. Ran fine on the hose off and on all day so I cleaned up my tools filled the tanks and away to the ramp we went.

Well at WOT she would only turn around 2200 RPM, so we fished a little while and I fiddled with the high and low speed needles and general carb maintenence, but when I removed the air box I noticed alot of unburnt fuel had drained into the box. Loaded back on trailer dropped my buddy off and came home to trouble shoot, pulled top plug wire died immediately, pulled bottom plug and there was no change what so ever. It was getting dark so I put her in the garage to address tomorrow. I did check battery voltage underway and it was 15.6v which leads me to assume the stator (or whatever the charging apparatus is called) is functioning properly.<------is this a correct assumption given the resting voltage was right around 12v (I'm assuming the stator runs the ignition system as well as the charging)


So here's what I intend to do in order:
1: check plug 2 for spark if none will swap coils and see if issue follows
2:check plugs for proper gap plug wires etc
3: how do I test the power pack, I read and read the forums and manual but its really hard to understand. given the power pack is roughly 1/5 the purchase price of the whole rig I'd like to know its faulty before throwing money at it to no avail!


As always help on this is greatly appreciated.

 

[boobie]

Re: 1976 55hp Evinrude running on 1 cylinder

What manual do you have ??

 

[Alleykat0498]

Re: 1976 55hp Evinrude running on 1 cylinder

The manual I have is a CLYMER Evinrude/Johnson Outboard Shop Manual 48-235hp 1973-1990, Im pretty inclined mechanically I've just never worked on a 2 stroke and I've never had to work on ignition systems and never a CDI type unit.

 

[Alleykat0498]

Re: 1976 55hp Evinrude running on 1 cylinder

After further reading it appears I need a "neon" test light to test the power pack. Is it possible to just use a ground and the lead to each coil from the power pack with an voltmeter set to AC? If so where should the voltage be?

 

[HighTrim]

Re: 1976 55hp Evinrude running on 1 cylinder

Im sorry, but those Clymer manuals are only good at soaking up spilt oil.

If you are going to wrench that motor, get a factory OEM manual.

I actually have the very same motor on my 16' aluminum. She is a rocket ship.

Start by determining why she is only running on 1 cylinder. I would start with the easy things before worrying about troubleshooting the pack. Get some new plugs. If that doesnt solve it, swap coils. Let us know how it goes.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: 1976 55hp Evinrude running on 1 cylinder

An OEM manual is the only way to go. I was able to find one on ebay for my 1975 50hp Johnson recently. Only paid $25.00 shipped which to me was a bargin.

Is worst comes to worst while looking for a manual I believe the 1975-78 50 and 55hp johnsons and Evinrudes models the manuals are all basically the same.

With only one cylinder not firing I don't think it's the power pack but of course I could be wrong.

 

[Alleykat0498]

Re: 1976 55hp Evinrude running on 1 cylinder

Well I picked up an inline spark tester and I've got spark, 2 new plugs gapped to .030 and hit the key and it was crazy hard to start. So I pulled the lower carb apart to take a peak and cleaned it on up. got the bowl full of fuel and now I cant get the thing to start no matter where I put the low speed needles. I started at 1 1/2 turns out and adjusted back and forth for about 2 hours. I can get it to run but when it does its running up high in rpm and smoking like a freight train... SIGH.....! so frustrating.

Couple of areas now have me concerned:

I noticed that the low speed needle on the lower cylinder had been completely closed by the previous owner. I have no idea why they did this unless the timing is possibly so far off they could only tune in one cylinder and assumed it was okay?

The arm that controls the timing advance as well as the throttle has a little play in it and is also sluggish to respond, I cant locate that part so should I just remove clean it grease it and put it back on?

Im going to grab a friends timing light sometime this week and at this point Im kind of hoping it has to do with the time being way off. I litterally had the low speed needles turned out 10-15 turns when I could manage to keep it running and it was not a pretty sight/sound. On the bright side Compression is 110/115 so its just a matter of sorting the rest of this mess out.

I guess I'll just restart the process, but now I know I have fuel because I can see gas pour out of the carbs if choke is left applied. REALLY hoping the timing is in a crazy spot but I'm going to pick up 2 carb kits when the shop opens back up after the holidays to rule them out.


Does any one have a pic of their linkage? I couldnt seem to get mine to go back together the same way it came apart. Looks the same but one of the little tabs is hindering the whole carb linkage from advancing.


Thanks in advance yet once again.

 

[Alleykat0498]

Re: 1976 55hp Evinrude running on 1 cylinder

Okay I think I'm starting to understand this a little bit better. I was reading my oil rag, aka clymer manual and I decided to go and see if the timing advance was traveling with the control, I can see where the timing is set, but it's not making the full travel to the stop. I obviously need to address why it's not going through the full range of movement as well as rebuild my carbs. It will be a few days with tomorrow being the wifes birthday as well as christmas put that together with 3 kids under 10 and you guys can see why I need this boat to function as intended:joyous:

Am I right in assuming the timing could have kept the rpms from crossing over 2500 if it wasnt making the full range of movement to the 19 degrees at wot?

 

[HighTrim]

Re: 1976 55hp Evinrude running on 1 cylinder

You are likely going to need to do a carb rebuild followed by a linc n sync. I fear the Clymers will be vague on this procedure. It is quite detailed.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: 1976 55hp Evinrude running on 1 cylinder

Sounds as though you are beginning to become familiar with this thing. Any idea as to how long it sat before you got it? Could be it needs a thorough going threw with some cleaner and some good light weight grease to get'r all cleaned up and lose. Kind of sounds like all the linkages are a bit sticky with old grease.

At this point I think I would start with a very thorough cleaning of those carbs. Take your time. Get a couple cans of spray carb cleaner and a few cans of compressed air like you would use to clean a computer. Use the straw and spray into all the small orifaces until you get cleaner coming out the other end. Then use the air to dry. Then I repeat it all a second time.

Then while the carbs are still off, use a rag or paper towel wet with carb cleaner or a good degreaser and wipe down all the linkages for the carbs and igintion to remove all the dried up dirty grease/oil that's become gummy. After it's all clean and moving freely use another paper towel with some light grease and wipe down all the connections with that. I use a white lithium grease for this and just a thin layer.

After that reassemble and then start with the link and sync.

Good luck and Merry Christmas.

 

[Alleykat0498]

Re: 1976 55hp Evinrude running on 1 cylinder

Thanks Guys and Merry Christmas to you all.


I snuck away to the garage and pulled the fly wheel to examine all of the moving parts and there is no binding in the actual timing advance with the linkage removed so I re assembled the whole deal. Just figured I'd tinker a little seeing as how I wont be able to get the parts until atleast tomorrow.

Does any one know where a guy could locate some of the linkage parts? I've looked at the diagrams and it's all hard parts gaskets etc, I really need the little nylon ends that go on the end of carb links, there still there just cracked etc.

Thanks for you guys help with this thing.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: 1976 55hp Evinrude running on 1 cylinder

Go to shopevinrude.com. Find your engine by model number then procede to the intake manifold parts. Should find all the part numbers there. They are all available also.