1989 Evinrude 150hp won't start, need some help

[Bass_boy7]

hey guys i have a 89 evinrude 150 CJ150STLCEM, had the motor running great this weeknd ran great all day and then when I went to start it at night it wouldn't catch just cranked, it sputtered a little bit but not again after resuming cranking. I didn't get to check for spark bc it was late and we pulled boat out of water and went home,(strapped for time) up at cottage, but when I tilted motor up, the gas leaked outta the carbs, any suggestions as to what might have happened? and what should I look for? ive read so many topics on this im confused now. things from carbs being outta synch to blown motors etc. The coils were all changed by previous owner and the power pack, any help would be great, this is a new to me motor.

 

[cr2k]

Re: 1989 Evinrude 150hp won't start, need some help

When you tilted the motor up it is like tipping a glass you will spill gas out of the carbs. Did someone catch the lanyard and pull it off?

 

[Bass_boy7]

Re: 1989 Evinrude 150hp won't start, need some help

As far as we know the safety was secure on the control box, but will wiggle it around for safe measure, I'm going to work on the boat in two weeks bc it's at my cottage so I'm trying to gain as much info as I can before I head up so I can go over everything on it.

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: 1989 Evinrude 150hp won't start, need some help

Check for spark with an inductive timing light. The flashes in the gun will tell you if the spark is intermittent, weak or not firing. Check your carb bowls. Possible they are the plastic ones. If so, then warp with age and cause fuel leaks like you mention. They will leak where the bowl mates to the bottom of the carb body. Warped bowls will need to be replaced. In addition to leaking fuel, they can leak air and can cause the engine to run lean.

 

[Bass_boy7]

Re: 1989 Evinrude 150hp won't start, need some help

Ok, I will check for that is there any other suggestions as to what to check or look for or try I'd really like to get this motor up and running again.

 

[Daviet]

Re: 1989 Evinrude 150hp won't start, need some help

Fuel, compression and timed spark is all it takes. You need to check all of them.

 

[Bass_boy7]

Re: 1989 Evinrude 150hp won't start, need some help

This may sound stupid but where can one get a timing light?, and how does it work? I have never used one does it tell you exactly what's happening?

 

[Daviet]

Re: 1989 Evinrude 150hp won't start, need some help

Almost all auto parts stores will carry timing lights, as well as any place that sells tools. You need the type that clamps around the plug wire,(inductive type) that way you can check different plug wires without shutting down the engine, just by switching the clamp from wire to wire. The clamp picks up a pulse going through the plug wire and it flashes a bright light at the exact time a spark goes through the plug wire.

 

[emoney]

Re: 1989 Evinrude 150hp won't start, need some help

Even your big box stores usually carry them, like WalMart - KMart - whatever the Candadian version is.

 

[Fed]

Re: 1989 Evinrude 150hp won't start, need some help

You might want to look at your starting procedure too, a long time ago my Mercury dealer told me to treat any 2 stroke motor that had been turned off for more than half an hour as a cold start situation. He explained that the leg sitting in the water works like a heat sink and motors will cool down very quickly. I believed him then & I believe him now, I've been using that method for 40 years.
Switch off for less then half an hour and it's a hit of the key & purring.
Switch off for more than half an hour & I apply full fast idle lever, hit the key & ready to choke if it doesn't fire & stay running immediately.

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: 1989 Evinrude 150hp won't start, need some help

Most auto parts stores rent tools, including timing lights, if you don't want to buy one. If you are at the store, you could also rent a laser temp gun to double check the head temps when running..a handy tool.

 

[Bass_boy7]

Re: 1989 Evinrude 150hp won't start, need some help

Ok guys update, compression good, spark non existent, I got one. Spark from a cylinder but then nothing again, any ideas?

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: 1989 Evinrude 150hp won't start, need some help

You can try to troubleshoot it yourself, or take it to a good marine shop. If you decide to tackle this yourself, the original factory service manual has an excellent troubleshooting section on the ignition system. They are available from Ken Cook Co., in Milwaukee. You may also find that the online troubleshooting from CDI electronics is helpful.

 

[Bass_boy7]

Re: 1989 Evinrude 150hp won't start, need some help

Does this sound like a power pack issue or possibly stator? Bc the owner before me put on a new power pack already? Unless heckled but he did give me the old one, do these motors commonly blow these packs?

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: 1989 Evinrude 150hp won't start, need some help

First of all, it's unlikely that all 6 spark plug coils went at once. That leaves the timer base, stator and power pack. All very expensive items. Best to do some troubleshooting before you start buying parts. You can check the voltage output of both the staor and the timer base with a special "peak reading" voltmeter. The factory service manual has the required output voltages.

 

[piperdriver]

Re: 1989 Evinrude 150hp won't start, need some help

If I amy give 1 thing to check. I recently had a similar issue. ran one minute then didn't. I found the power wire coming off of the key switch had corroded and broken. It was making contact just enough to give a "spark". It was intermittant and very weak, but a spark never the less. This was only on the ignition side of the switch, the accessory side and the crank side were all good. Maybe check for good voltage going to the ignition system, and cleck for a voltage drop while cranking.

 

[jonesg]

Re: 1989 Evinrude 150hp won't start, need some help

Does this sound like a power pack issue or possibly stator? Bc the owner before me put on a new power pack already? Unless heckled but he did give me the old one, do these motors commonly blow these packs?

Unplug the main harness plug and jump the starter solenoid, see if spark returns.(plugs out, using a spark tester).
If not, disconnect the kill wire at the powerpack (black/yellow stripe) see if spark returns.

If no spark, reconnect the kill circuit and main harness plug again.
Order a Peak reading marine meter and start testing the components using the PDF guide below.
http://www.usatoolwarehouse.com/usatoolwarehouse/ESI-530.html



http://issuu.com/cdielectronics/doc...t.xml&backgroundColor=000000&showFlipBtn=true
REad page 102+ to see how to use the DVA

then page 30+ for your system.

 

[Bass_boy7]

Re: 1989 Evinrude 150hp won't start, need some help

Ok I did the starter jump, and no spark I had spark on one cylinder for a little bit then nothing on it again, I currently don't have a tester on me so that's as far as I can get, im hoping it can be an easy fix I really don't want to dump alot of $$ into this motor if I don't have to.

 

[jonesg]

Re: 1989 Evinrude 150hp won't start, need some help

And you can't figure out how to hold the wire at a gap?
C,mon , at least pretend like you're trying.

 

[Bass_boy7]

Re: 1989 Evinrude 150hp won't start, need some help

ok, so now new update guys, went through every single connection cleaned them all up etc and now spark has returned?? But motors back firing when trying to start up, what should I do/look for next?