89 40hp 4 cylinder out of time.

[Boatman08]

Working on this motor that ran all day on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Started up on the next morning and died after 3-4 minutes.

The issue is narrowed down to ignition timing. Timing light is nowhere near where it should be, probably 60-70? off (estimation) at cranking speeds.
Replaced CDI box with known good. Flywheel key not sheared or bent. Flywheel appears to be in fine shape. All four plugs spark fine.

Can the trigger possibly throw the thing that far out of time?

 

[Little Richard]

Did you check timing before you switched cdi. Are you're trigger wires hooked up right or maybe got switched around

 

[CharlieB]

It is highly unlikely that ignition timing could change that far off.

When in doubt start from square one and check everything.

Pull the spark plug from the top cyl, bar the motor over until that cyl is at top dead center. Verify the Igniton marks on the flywheel showing TDC and mark the timing mark.

Remove all spark plugs, ground the wires, connect your timing light. Advance the throttle to WOT, crank the motor and watch the timing flash to see where is WOT timing again.

As posted, verify all ignition box wiring to ensure it is correct.

Repost your results.

 

[Boatman08]

Guys thanks for the input. I found it last night. Stator was bad. Put an alternate on and it fired. Still have some work to do, but at least I am on the down hill side of it.
I am going to recheck the timing next. Then I want to try to wrap my mind around what the root cause was with the stator and why it made the timing react the way it was acting.

Thanks again!!