1989 85HP Force - intermittent spark on Cyl 2 - tough one

devl

Seaman
Joined
Apr 2, 2010
Messages
72
Ive run every test I can find, had loads of help from a forum member but still cannot isolate this issue. We have intermittent spark on Cyl 2...sometimes its there most of the time it isnt (warm or cold engine). Stator and trigger passed all tests (actually tried 2 triggers and they both seem fine).

Heres the hard part to figure out....Cyl 1 and 3 always have fire...if we switch the 1 and 2 coil wires from the CDI they both fire but if we switch the plug wires to the respective sparkplugs 2 loses spark. Then when we switch back, 2 either sparks once then nothing or it has no spark then after 5 seconds of engine cranking starts sparking normal. I know its confusing as heck reading it but its really bad living it..lol

I guess I need some input on if this is a wiring issue, stator or CDI. We are at the point of just buying 2 new CDI boxes and if that doesnt work buying a new stator. I rebuilt just about every wire, ohmed them, new connections and triple checked the layout so I dont think its wiring related. My best guess at this point is a bad CDI that sometimes fires....is this realistic?
 

devl

Seaman
Joined
Apr 2, 2010
Messages
72
Re: 1989 85HP Force - intermittent spark on Cyl 2 - tough one

Also the DVA meter I ordered wont be in until next week....I was hoping to resolve this by Sat.

If anyone knows of a case where a bad component can fry CDI boxes please let me know.
 

jaybirddog11

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Nov 30, 2009
Messages
133
Re: 1989 85HP Force - intermittent spark on Cyl 2 - tough one

My CD unit would fire intermittenly. I replaced it and has been working great since.
 

devl

Seaman
Joined
Apr 2, 2010
Messages
72
Re: 1989 85HP Force - intermittent spark on Cyl 2 - tough one

Thanks jaybirddog11....I was hoping to hear from someone who had a CD box that fired intermittently as that's what we think it is....everything else checks out.
 

jerryjerry05

Supreme Mariner
Joined
May 7, 2008
Messages
18,072
Re: 1989 85HP Force - intermittent spark on Cyl 2 - tough one

#2 is the draw cylinder for the fuel pump.Check the diaphram and valves.
How's the compression?J
 

devl

Seaman
Joined
Apr 2, 2010
Messages
72
Re: 1989 85HP Force - intermittent spark on Cyl 2 - tough one

#2 is the draw cylinder for the fuel pump.Check the diaphram and valves.
How's the compression?J

How would this affect spark? The motor runs great on 2 cyl...starts right up and idles so the fuel system should be fine. I dont have a compression tester so I did the old school hot rod method and all the cylinders seem good.
 

jerryjerry05

Supreme Mariner
Joined
May 7, 2008
Messages
18,072
Re: 1989 85HP Force - intermittent spark on Cyl 2 - tough one

You one finger compression test is no way to judge a cylinder.A cylinder with weak compression will still blow it away.
The 2nd cylinder will operate on startup and then will get fouled when it sucks fuel back into it on the draw stroke.
I'm not saying it absolutley your problem.Just something to look at.
If you read the other post here about 10-15 recent posts have come back with a ripped/torn/old diaphram and some have bad compression.
That is a real easy check.One guy I know had a tear in his diaphram and bought a trigger,stator,flywheel.Spent 30 hours and it was a bad diaphram.20 minute fix.
A compression tester is $15-20. The pump tester is a screwdriver.J
 

john from md

Commander
Joined
Apr 13, 2008
Messages
2,184
Re: 1989 85HP Force - intermittent spark on Cyl 2 - tough one

Have you tried swapping the coils to see if it moves? The earlier coils have a permanent high tension lead attachement and these can corrode inside the insulation. This causes a high resistance and one of the indicators is intermittant firing.

John
 
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