'55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

[bassin'frog]

Can't get a spark on either cylinder for this motor! I have new coils, condensers, points, plug wires. Originally, I installed these on another motor and had spark. Couldn't get the motor running, so i brought these over to the QD-16. Found no spark yesterday so this morning I uninstalled the entire ignition and checked it out. I checked the coils for continuity of the primary and secondary windings as listed on a sticky and do in fact have continuity. My coils are installed on the base footings just as they should be. Flywheel magnet is in fact magnetic. I don't know how to check the condensers for continuity but assume they are good seeing I had spark on the other motor. Oh yeah, I am checking for spark with a brand new spark tester from Auto Zone. I have used several different grounds on it and have also checked for spark the old fashioned way... nada, zip, zilch, nuttin'..... Any ideas? Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Very frustrated right now. Thanks....

Bob

 

[SeaKaye12]

Re: '55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

Are the points **REALLY** clrean? I swipe a business card through them....soaked in laquer thinner or equivalent.
Chuck

 

[orbanp]

Re: '55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

You can also check if the points are installed correctly, i.e. they are not shorted when open, that they indeed break the ground contact.
To check remove the coil wire from the points and check with an ohm-meter if the points are not grounded when open. If you leave the cap wire connected to the points then this test also checks if the caps are shorted. The caps checked with an ohm meter should show infinite resistance.

Peter

 

[bassin'frog]

Re: '55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

Chuck, maybe that's it.... I cleaned them with emery paper and acetone. They really don't appear to me to be 'shiny' though... your thoughts?

Bob

 

[SeaKaye12]

Re: '55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

Really odd; eh? I'm trying to think of things that would cause BOTH top and bottom to fail at the same time.

I've read that people "polish" points and get them shiny; mine never look very shiny though.

You said that you cleaned the points with emory cloth and acetone. Maybe there are particles from the emory cloth still in there? I'd clean them again with the acetone on paper; business card stock or even a piece of grocery bag...then blow with compressed air if available.

I guess you checked the continuity of the spark plug wires when you checked the coils? Seems odd that BOTH of any of the parts are problematic at the same time...but it can happen.

Good luck, Chuck

 

[bassin'frog]

Re: '55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

You can also check if the points are installed correctly, i.e. they are not shorted when open, that they indeed break the ground contact.
To check remove the coil wire from the points and check with an ohm-meter if the points are not grounded when open. If you leave the cap wire connected to the points then this test also checks if the caps are shorted. The caps checked with an ohm meter should show infinite resistance.

Peter

Peter, exactly how do I check with a meter? Where do the red and black from the meter go? Pics would be great... thanks.

SeaKaye12, didn't check plug wire continuity, but as I stated in original post, I had spark on both wires when on the other motor.

Thanks, Bob

 

[AlTn]

Re: '55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

check the grounding switch wires by unplugging them and see if the spark is then present

 

[bassin'frog]

Re: '55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

check the grounding switch wires by unplugging them and see if the spark is then present

AlTn; hate to look stupid, but, what are the grounding switch wires? Are you talking the black from the coils? Or the cut-off switch wires?
Thanks
Bob

 

[SeaKaye12]

Re: '55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

Does your motor use grounding switch wires? They would be another wire coming from each point set and exiting through the bottom of the mag plate....connecting to a safety lanyard or remote ignition/kill switch. I doubt they were there originally; but if they are there now do as AITn suggests and dis-connect them.

Wow; I never thought of a QD-16 having grounding switch wires. If it has a "STOP" button...then it has grounding switch wires

Chuck

 

[bassin'frog]

Re: '55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

SeaKaye12; got ya; will do tomorrow and report back. It does have a kill switch on it and didn't think it would matter.

Thanks, Bob

 

[kfa4303]

Re: '55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

Did you get new 7 mm copper core spark plug wires? Are they twisted properly on to the coil posts? This link should help.

http://www.outboard-boat-motor-repa...on 3 HP 1952-1967 Ignition System Tune-up.htm

 

[orbanp]

Re: '55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

Peter, exactly how do I check with a meter? Where do the red and black from the meter go? Pics would be great... thanks.

...
Thanks, Bob

Hi Bob,

Polarity for resistance measurement does not matter. Remove the coil wire from the points, put to the points one of the test leads, the other goes to the ground. Set the cam where the points are closed, and you can then open the points by hand. The meter should read close to zero resistance when the points are closed, and high resistance when the points are open.

Peter

 

[bassin'frog]

Re: '55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

Did you get new 7 mm copper core spark plug wires? Are they twisted properly on to the coil posts? This link should help.

http://www.outboard-boat-motor-repa...on 3 HP 1952-1967 Ignition System Tune-up.htm

Yes, I did use new 7mm wires and yes I did screw it in; always do... going to disconnect cutoff switch wires from the points screw and see if that's it.... may end up just getting new points and condensers today also.

Thanks, Bob

 

[SeaKaye12]

Re: '55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

Did you install the kill switch or was that done by a PO? Got a picture of it?

Chuck

 

[bassin'frog]

Re: '55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

Did you install the kill switch or was that done by a PO? Got a picture of it?

Chuck

I installed kill switch, one wire to one set of point and the other wire to the other set of points. Next day or so, will disconnect kill switch entirely and see what happens. Just don't understand why 'both' cylinders aren't getting spark. Have gotten a lot a recommendations on this and will be following all suggested help. Time for crossin' fingers.

Bob

 

[SeaKaye12]

Re: '55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

I installed kill switch, one wire to one set of point and the other wire to the other set of points. Just don't understand why 'both' cylinders aren't getting spark.

Bob

Well....if the scenario is such that the kill-switch or it's related wiring is bad...it would do exactly that; kill the spark on both cylinders. I'm betting on that being the cause; it seems like you have eliminated everything else.

Chuck

 

[bassin'frog]

Re: '55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

Well....if the scenario is such that the kill-switch or it's related wiring is bad...it would do exactly that; kill the spark on both cylinders. I'm betting on that being the cause; it seems like you have eliminated everything else.

Chuck

Disconnected the kill switch and still no spark to either plug. After following all suggestions, to include cutting back the plug wires, pulling all ignition parts, testing them, cleaning the stator base, and reinstalling all... still no spark..... Bought new points and condensers from local dealer and will be installing those and looking for spark in the next few days.... will keep you posted.

Thanks, Bob

 

[bassin'frog]

Re: '55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

UPDATE: followed everyone's suggestions and wound up pulling the "new" condensers and points and installing "new" ones. BAM, got spark to both cylinders! Weather permitting, I will attempt to start the gem up in my test barrel tomorrow.... will keep you posted.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: '55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

sweet!

 

[bassin'frog]

Re: '55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

UPDATE: Didn't attempt start up in test barrel today... damn... found a problem with the way stator plate was sitting, fixed that... then realized gas was leaking outta my high speed need location so pulled the carb (even tho' it's been rebuilt already), pulled the packing washers out, put new ones in and re-installed the carb... then I decided I didn't like my 'link and sync' so I readjusted that... then it was time to flippin' double check for the 'umpteenth' time all my settings and all my work... after all that I said the heck with it... vacuumed out my shop, drank a cold brew', and said that's it for today. Have some more important family business to take care of tomorrow, so I hope to get my gem in the tank Tuesday or Wednesday. Will let ya know how it goes...