83' RUDE 115 - lost spark..switched p-pack

[11craigt]

Engine has been running great. Intermittent sticky starts, but overall pretty good. Running it this last weekend, I lost spark in port-side 2 cylinders (V-4). Kept running though, I guess on 2 cylinders...real rough and wouldn't do much even with WOT. Threw new plugs in, still the same. Shut it off - Couldn't get it to restart - got towed. Switched power packs and now I got spark again on port-side. Should it start on 2 cylinders & What kind of voltage should be properly coming out of the power packs and then the coils? I ordered 2 new power packs. Any help appreciated. Thanks.

 

[OBJ]

Re: 83' RUDE 115 - lost spark..switched p-pack

Welcome anchorthis!<br /><br />When you switched power packs and got spark back on the port side.....that pretty much told the story. But you didn't say whether or not the starboard side had spark or not. If the problem followed the pack, then the pack is pretty much the problem.<br /><br />The voltage from the pack to the coil would be 200+ DC volts on a peak reading volt meter.

 

[11craigt]

Re: 83' RUDE 115 - lost spark..switched p-pack

Thanks for the reply and greeting. No spark on starboard as I didn't try the complete switch-a-roo. Just took what I know was working and tried the pack on the port side to regain spark there. Should I be able to start it with only one power pack working right? And is there a "bad" way to cause harm to anything when checking for spark?

 

[11craigt]

Re: 83' RUDE 115 - lost spark..switched p-pack

Just wondering. I mentioned sticky startups in my intial post, where the engine stumbles a little bit, but usually isn't too much to get going. But it does still do it even after it is warm, you just got get some throttle going behind it. Can that be contributed to the weak power packs or idle speed? Again thanks for picking your brain.

 

[11craigt]

Re: 83' RUDE 115 - lost spark..switched p-pack

Just wondering. I just checked the compression on this motor (83- Evinrude 115)- at least 125psi per each cyclinder. So once I replace the powerpacks to regain my spark, is there a best way to check for spark? Can you harm anything doing it a wrong way? Just want it to be able to start up. Thanks for the expertise.