So last year I was given a free 195x Johnson JW-10 Seahorse that wasn't running, and hadn't been run in probably 10 years.
Last spring the coils were replaced, timing set, carb rebuilt, etc., etc.
It would start (with difficulty) , but wouldn't run correctly. After much consternation and help from folks here (and about 5 carb rebuilds) the culprit was unearthed - a small metal flake in the bottom of the float bowl that was covering the inlet leading up to the idle circuit. How it survived being sprayed with carb cleaner, soaked in carb cleaner, and being blown with compressed air I still do not know.
So it was running and starting easily and reliably. Then it stranded me. Running fine out on the lake, fishing... suddenly it won't start. Take it home, tear it apart - plug wires routed incorrectly (and too short) pulled plug wire out of coil. Go to auto store, get some plug wires, reroute - it runs fine. Starts right up.
A month or so (and three fishing trips later) with no problems - and then it strands me in almost exactly the same manner. Having started the motor 20 times already that day, it just refuses to start. Not even a sneeze. After paddling home, I pulled the motor off and set it aside.
It sat all winter, and I'm just getting to it.
Tried starting it after priming with a little gas in the carb throat - nothing.
Tried starting it after priming with a little gas in the carb throat, spinning it with my drill - nothing.
Threw my inline spark tester on and spun with drill - spark, but looked real weak.
Pulled plugs - plugs looked pretty good. I'd call them carbon fouled if they were coming out of a four-stroke, but they don't seem bad for a two stroke.
Pulled the flywheel and checked/reset timing - one cylinder was a tiny bit off. Spun it with drill - still nothing.
Checked spark again - now not getting any (or so weak as to be invisible) spark.
Pulled coils - coils have continuity, and look good.
...at this point I notice that I stupidly when replacing the plug wires replaced them with carbon core auto wires.
Would this cause a weak spark, which leads to easy fouling, and an inability to fire on even slightly fouled plugs? Run for a while until enough fouling builds up (and even though it isn't much) won't let it fire?
Last spring the coils were replaced, timing set, carb rebuilt, etc., etc.
It would start (with difficulty) , but wouldn't run correctly. After much consternation and help from folks here (and about 5 carb rebuilds) the culprit was unearthed - a small metal flake in the bottom of the float bowl that was covering the inlet leading up to the idle circuit. How it survived being sprayed with carb cleaner, soaked in carb cleaner, and being blown with compressed air I still do not know.
So it was running and starting easily and reliably. Then it stranded me. Running fine out on the lake, fishing... suddenly it won't start. Take it home, tear it apart - plug wires routed incorrectly (and too short) pulled plug wire out of coil. Go to auto store, get some plug wires, reroute - it runs fine. Starts right up.
A month or so (and three fishing trips later) with no problems - and then it strands me in almost exactly the same manner. Having started the motor 20 times already that day, it just refuses to start. Not even a sneeze. After paddling home, I pulled the motor off and set it aside.
It sat all winter, and I'm just getting to it.
Tried starting it after priming with a little gas in the carb throat - nothing.
Tried starting it after priming with a little gas in the carb throat, spinning it with my drill - nothing.
Threw my inline spark tester on and spun with drill - spark, but looked real weak.
Pulled plugs - plugs looked pretty good. I'd call them carbon fouled if they were coming out of a four-stroke, but they don't seem bad for a two stroke.
Pulled the flywheel and checked/reset timing - one cylinder was a tiny bit off. Spun it with drill - still nothing.
Checked spark again - now not getting any (or so weak as to be invisible) spark.
Pulled coils - coils have continuity, and look good.
...at this point I notice that I stupidly when replacing the plug wires replaced them with carbon core auto wires.
Would this cause a weak spark, which leads to easy fouling, and an inability to fire on even slightly fouled plugs? Run for a while until enough fouling builds up (and even though it isn't much) won't let it fire?
