60 hp evinrude won't start

[dasher44]

Think it's a 1970. Uses one coil and an amplifier pack. Has three cylinders. Checking plugs for spark... It's there but very small. When under compression, with spark tester, there is none. I'm thinking about buying the amplifier, but some dealers tell me this motor is a poor design. One said the dist. cap was bad also. I see no cracks in it, but the contacts are tarnished. Can they be resurfaced with metal brush? I am willing to put some $ in this up to a point because I've owned it forever and it really is low usage. What do you think?

 

[Tinkerer]

Re: 60 hp evinrude won't start

I'm trying to sort out a "no spark" problem on a '71 3 cyl 60 HP Evinrude at the moment. <br /><br />Looks like my problem (or one of them) might be the wires on the amplifier shorting out where the covering has come off where they come out of the moudule. Don't know if yours is the same, but it might be worth pulling the module off the motor and having a close look where the wires go into the module. If you can see bare wires, it ain't a good sign. <br /><br />If your distributor is like mine, the lobes on the distributor look like they're meant to be coated with the same material that the dizzy body is made of. It's weird as I'm used to car dizzies with metal lobes, but maybe someone can confirm this because you might be removing something that's meant to be there. Or maybe I should be removing something that isn't meant to be there, except mine has run with the coating on the lobes.

 

[alcan]

Re: 60 hp evinrude won't start

Hi Dasher<br />There could be a number of things wrong with your ignition system. Since this systems parts are on the spendy side. I would suggest that you aquire a manual and start the diagnostic testing procedure. This is the fastest most inexpencive way to sort out problems in this case. Do the step by step method. Other wise you will end up like a dog chasing it's tail, never really getting any where. The dist. caps or dizzys, as Tinker states, are not desposable as are auto units. They can be cleaned up and run. How ever you will need to test them first. The manual covers this. The price of a new dizzy cap is enough to make you dizzy if not out right faint. A lot of the motors in this group (that use this ignition system) suffer from rotton wiring harnesses. You must also use the specified Battery and it must be in good condition. The first test is to test the battery. Did I mention testing the battery? There I said it three times, Just like the book.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: 60 hp evinrude won't start

Tinkerer,<br /><br />Try this link for basic info on troubleshooting your ignition system. Years ago I adapted one of those "amplifiers" to my car (back in the days of points and condesors) and ran it for several years.<br /><br /> http://outboardparts.com/troubleshooting/troubleshooting4.htm

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: 60 hp evinrude won't start

One simple test you might try. This engine has two sets of points. On the side of the block, disconnect the black wire going from the points to the amplifier. While someone cranks the engine, rapidly tap the wire coming from the amplifier to the side of the block, and see what kind of spark you have across the spark checker. If the spark is now good the trouble is with the points. You also need a minimum of 9 1/5 volts at the purple wire going to the amplifier while cranking. If you can find one, get the original OMC manual. You need it with this engine.

 

[dasher44]

Re: 60 hp evinrude won't start

The link Seahorse posted said not to use a "maintenance free" battery with this engine. It said that they tend to overcharge and cause misfiring after a few minutes which blows the pack. Feed voltage to the pac should not exceed 15.5 volts. As a matter of fact, I was cruising along for just a few minutes when it did begin misfiring and then died. Yes, I had a maintenance free battery and have experienced the misfiring more than once, just as the link claimed. In the past, I was always able to get it back on track by moving the throttle. All of the replies to my posting have given me good info to confirm this. As soon as it warms up a little here in Pa. , I'll give it a try and post the results.

 

[dasher44]

Re: 60 hp evinrude won't start

My problem turned out to be a bad coil. That was one thing I did think about, but an evinrude dealer had checked it out and said he swapped it out. I'm running good now. Thanks for your help.