Evinrude electrical trouble

barbwire44

Seaman
Joined
Jun 25, 2007
Messages
73
ok this is a 1973 85 v-4, last year I lost all spark, I got on here and was told pretty good chance it was the powerpack, (it only has 1 on this model). That was correct, new powerpack and it was back on the water, well the motor hasnt run 20 hours since then and at full throttle last week it died, no spark on all 4 cylinders again...... I'm thinkin must be powerpack, but why did it go out again so soon. I called the local marina, they said well maybe the coils are old, the recifier may not be working right and these things could over work or be hard on the powerpack, so I replaced the powerpack, all 4 coils,(the coils were cracked and old) and I had an old rectifier in my parts box and replaced it also. Well still no spark????? One other odd thing I noticed last night was,as soon as you turn the key to the ON position, not the start, the choke solenoid activates, and stays activated (the choke is on). I know it didn't do this before it lost spark,??? is this the sign of something shorting out..... I checked the voltage on the wiring bar where the two wires from the choke solenoid go, and there is 6 volts on those two wires as soon as the key is on????? when you hit the choke button there is 12 volts??? thanks guys any help appreciated, I just don't know what to do next, I have a manual, and it said to also disconnect the #6 wire at the powerpack to rule out the ignition switch, well I tried that when I first lost spark and it did not do anything.
thanks
 

F_R

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
28,226
Re: Evinrude electrical trouble

Choke operation is normal. It has a warm-up partial choke feature in addition to the operator-activated one. There is a service bulletin concerning changing those to full driver's control, but never mind that for now.

I was all set to say to disconnect the kill wire till I read your last sentence and see that you have already done that. So now I don't know why your motor keeps quiting. I really doubt it is the power packs.
 

bigpoppakdog

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 9, 2008
Messages
437
Re: Evinrude electrical trouble

do you have a dva meter? check the blue wire coming from the pack when trying to start. see if voltage shows up. also check the purple wires to see if you have volts there.
 

barbwire44

Seaman
Joined
Jun 25, 2007
Messages
73
Re: Evinrude electrical trouble

FR, I really don't think my choke did that, before the spark loss,,, I remember checking the flaps one time to make sure the choke solenoid was closing all the way, and it didn't activate when I turned the key on then.....???
 

barbwire44

Seaman
Joined
Jun 25, 2007
Messages
73
Re: Evinrude electrical trouble

Will check the blue wire tonight, You don't happen to know the number on the pack that has that wire do you??? I just don't remember a blue wire when I installed the pack. Will look to confirm this evening though
 

bigpoppakdog

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 9, 2008
Messages
437
Re: Evinrude electrical trouble

really? thought this has one pack with one main ignition coil?
 
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