'73 Evinrude 115 - No spark

[BOAH]

I have a '73 Evinrude 115 that I've had now for about about 9 months. The previous owner told me he had an intermittent no spark problem. I've run it a lot since then and I haven't had any problems. Today, I tried to start it and it definitely doesn't have a spark. Can someone outline the steps for me in trouble-shooting this?

Thanks for your help!

 

[oldcatamount]

Re: '73 Evinrude 115 - No spark

sounds like bad coils to me. Look for cracks in the coils or signs of burning. A bad coil can test good but when they get warmed up they fail.

 

[BOAH]

Re: '73 Evinrude 115 - No spark

I went out to take another look just to make sure again I wasn't getting spark and it started immediately?!?!?! How in the world do I troubleshoot an intermittent problem like that?

I'll go take a close look at the coils and look for cracks.

Thank you.

 

[oldcatamount]

Re: '73 Evinrude 115 - No spark

Maybe a bad switch wire or a lose connection, very difficult to pinpoint.

 

[CharlieB]

Re: '73 Evinrude 115 - No spark

Faulty/intermittent ignition switch?

 

[mrcj001]

Re: '73 Evinrude 115 - No spark

Intermittent spark problems are usually a bad power pack.

Get a spark tester.

At the power pack, remove the black/yellow wire from the pack.

Have the spark tester installed: then crank the engine with the switch.

If you get no spark or spark on one or two coils, replace the power pack.

If spark is present on all coils, the problem may be in the key switch curcuit or the switch itself.

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: '73 Evinrude 115 - No spark

You can get some excellent troubleshooting from an original factory service manual or from CDI electronics: www.cdielectronics.com/. You can get an original factory manual from Ken Cook Co., in Milwaukee.

 

[BOAH]

Re: '73 Evinrude 115 - No spark

Sounds like my first step is to get a spark tester. Any recommendations on this? Looks like there's a few and the prices vary quite a bit.

Thanks.

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: '73 Evinrude 115 - No spark

You can also check spark with an automotive type inductive timing light. The flashes will show you no fires, weak fires and intermittents.