okay I am new to boating and have a 16' bowrider with this 55hp 1977 Johnson outboard. After running it up river for about 8 miles on a 90+ degree day it decided to quit upon idling down.<br />It will restart okay but only run for 5 to 10 seconds then quit abruptly. Wait 5 or 10 seconds and it will restart again. Sometimes we can put the gas to it and it will rev for a few minutes but 5 or 10 seconds after going to idle it quits. We thought dirty fuel so we checked filter(looked great) fuel pump (looked great) primer bulb is hard when running. Took carbs off and cleaned bowls and ports and jets with welding tip cleaner.<br />Checked fuel pump for good flow (looked good). Installed new spark plugs ($9.95CDN each!). Both plugs firing when it does run (checked plug wires with a timing light pickup). One coil to one cylinder appears to have been replaced. The other looks original.<br />What we thought might be a overtemp sensor above and to the right of the ignition terminal strip on the rear driver side of motor is a "generator". The local mechanic says this charges the battery. Being an automotive guy I dont see how this potted diecast thing with three wires going into it can generate electricty. Any how we removed the two fastners holding it to the base plate and noticed the insulation warn off on one wire. We also noticed that if we let the "generator" dangle from its three wires the motor would run fine. Also you got a jolt if you touched it will engine running. And sparks would jump if you nudged it towards the mounting base plate. It would do this even after we "reinsulated" the wire.<br />So we thought this was it and drove for two hours to buy a new one ($65CDN). Installed it and it does not run any better. HOWEVER, it runs great if we wrap the generator with electrical tape and let it hang by the wires and do not bolt it down to the base plate. Otherwise sparks jump and the motor cuts out again. ANY IDEAS?? PLEASE??
