55 Johnson no spark

[CobisCaller]

Hello
This motor is a 1977, 55hp Johnson. Model 55EL77D

I have an intermittent no spark problem that reappeared yesterday.
Put the boat in and it wouldn't fire. Got out my spark plug light and verified no spark. Took off the power pack cover, left it off, and removed the Black/Yellow wire. Turned it over and it fired up. I shut off the key and pushed the wire back against the terminal and it died. I then put the power pack cover back on and left the wire hanging in the air and turned the key on and tried to start it. Again no spark. I then removed the power pack cover and turned it over. It started right up. I again turmed the key off and pressed the wire against the terminal to kill it.
I hooked the black/yellow wire back up, left the power pack cover off and turned it on. It started immediately several times and ran fine the rest of the day.
Sooooo, it seems that the terminals inside are shorting out through the gasket to the cover?
Should I just replace the gasket and insulator piece or is there a possibility that something is bad within the pack itself. The gasket is kinda cracked in a couple places. Just seeing what you guys thought before I order anything.
Thanks in advance!

 

[CobisCaller]

Well I have let the motor sit since the weekend and thought I would try it again.

After running it all afternoon Sunday with the power pack cover off, I put the power pack cover back on tonight, hit the key and it started, first try.

I have a new power pack gasket and insulator piece ordered so I will pit those on when they get here.

My question is, if this reoccurs, what would the first steps to check if I don't have spark again?
I think I have eliminated the bk/yellow wire and the key switch as being the problem with my tests on Sunday.
What is the next thing to check?

It is hard to know when it is gonna do it, but I want to have tools and a plan on board to check it when it does happen.

Thanks!

 

[F_R]

Sounds like you found the problem. But if not. I would suspect wires between the timer base and power pack are broken internally where the are constantly bending back and forth every time you move the throttle. Not something you are going to fix on the water.

Of course it could also still be the kill circuit

 

[CobisCaller]

Thanks for the reply!

I'll take a look at those wires as well.