Evinrude hard cranking-won't start

[slabhunter]

I have a 1972 50hp Evinrude that just won't start. With the plugs out it cranks fine but put them in even loosly and it barely cranks over. Have cleaned all connections, tried a new starter, tried a new 730 CCA battery and no difference. Have tried both through the solenoid and direct to starter and no difference there either. The motor has good compression, incredibly good spark, and fuel to carb. It simply won't crank fast enough to start. It's the electric shift type that needs to build pressure before going into nuetral but from what I've seen on the forum (and common sense that they wouldn't have sold many) I doubt that would cause this. I'm no marine mechanic but I've fixed a lot of motors and I'm stumped here. One point: I don't have the external wiring harness or controls. But with compression, spark, fuel and going direct to starter I'd think it should still run. Sorry for the long post, just figured we'd save time if I give more info to start with. Any help appreciated.

 

[ob]

Re: Evinrude hard cranking-won't start

How easy does the engine turn over by hand(flywheel) when the plugs are removed?Unless I missed something in your post,you've tried a brand new starter and jumped a large 12 volt cable directly to the starter and it still won't turn the engine with the plugs installed?

 

[papasage]

Re: Evinrude hard cranking-won't start

hi slab hunter i have one of those and dont have any probablem with it . as you said it has to spinn fast enough to put voltage to the cylidnoids to actvate them and put it into nutral . <br /> one thing to try is put a meter on the battery and see if it is drawing a lot of current . and you could have dry cylinders . spray some gass oil mix into cylinder . or maby a spoon of oil in each cylinder . if it is a bad conection you can hold the key in start position and hold a few seconds and the conection will git warm or mab git hot .i know you said you cleaned the conections but i have don that and still had one . you can put some cables from a battery to the starter and bypass every thing just streight to battery . reread post mine is a 1973 think they are the same . i changed the last one i had to standard shift and would like to find one for my 73 . a 1974 will work . just havent found one yet .papasage

 

[slabhunter]

Re: Evinrude hard cranking-won't start

Originally posted by papasage:<br /> hi slab hunter i have one of those and dont have any probablem with it . as you said it has to spinn fast enough to put voltage to the cylidnoids to actvate them and put it into nutral . <br /> one thing to try is put a meter on the battery and see if it is drawing a lot of current . and you could have dry cylinders . spray some gass oil mix into cylinder . or maby a spoon of oil in each cylinder . if it is a bad conection you can hold the key in start position and hold a few seconds and the conection will git warm or mab git hot .i know you said you cleaned the conections but i have don that and still had one . you can put some cables from a battery to the starter and bypass every thing just streight to battery . reread post mine is a 1973 think they are the same . i changed the last one i had to standard shift and would like to find one for my 73 . a 1974 will work . just havent found one yet .papasage

 

[slabhunter]

Re: Evinrude hard cranking-won't start

papasage,<br />Thanks. I'm feeling both dumb and elated. I don't know how many times I've heard guys telling people to check and clean the connections and I thought I'd done everything but to be sure I changed my engine ground location and swapped out the battery cable to the solenoid and it worked. Motor fired but without any water I didn't dare start it. Even works great with the old starter! I know a guy here in Oregon with a 1974 Johnson 50hp that he says threw a rod and trashed the block. Not sure if it's manual shift or not but I think '72 was the last year before they went to manual wasn't it? If you're interested the lower unit would run $125.00 plus UPS charge. Thanks again.<br />JC

 

[slabhunter]

Re: Evinrude hard cranking-won't start

Originally posted by papasage:<br /> hi slab hunter i have one of those and dont have any probablem with it . as you said it has to spinn fast enough to put voltage to the cylidnoids to actvate them and put it into nutral . <br /> one thing to try is put a meter on the battery and see if it is drawing a lot of current . and you could have dry cylinders . spray some gass oil mix into cylinder . or maby a spoon of oil in each cylinder . if it is a bad conection you can hold the key in start position and hold a few seconds and the conection will git warm or mab git hot .i know you said you cleaned the conections but i have don that and still had one . you can put some cables from a battery to the starter and bypass every thing just streight to battery . reread post mine is a 1973 think they are the same . i changed the last one i had to standard shift and would like to find one for my 73 . a 1974 will work . just havent found one yet .papasage

 

[slabhunter]

Re: Evinrude hard cranking-won't start

OB,<br />See my response to papasage. Persistance pays off and all the advice I've read coming from this forum was right on. I just had to be more thorough. I knew the thing wanted to run. It turned over just fine with the plugs out and had the ABC's needed to run. Fuel, compression and spark. (yeah I know that's FCS not ABC. hehe)Thanks for responding.<br />JC

 

[papasage]

Re: Evinrude hard cranking-won't start

1973 was eletric shift that is what i have . and yes i would be interested in the manul shift . it will fit but need some parts off the power head to . the plate under the carbs and the shifter on the side that the cables hook to .as best as i can remember that is all . the shift diaode has to be removed an d mabt something else . it has ben10 years sinse i did that . it isent a simple swap the bottom porton . i would just pull power head and put mine on the standard shift foot . papasage

 

[slabhunter]

Re: Evinrude hard cranking-won't start

Originally posted by papasage:<br /> 1973 was eletric shift that is what i have . and yes i would be interested in the manul shift . it will fit but need some parts off the power head to . the plate under the carbs and the shifter on the side that the cables hook to .as best as i can remember that is all . the shift diaode has to be removed an d mabt something else . it has ben10 years sinse i did that . it isent a simple swap the bottom porton . i would just pull power head and put mine on the standard shift foot . papasage

 

[slabhunter]

Re: Evinrude hard cranking-won't start

hey papasage,<br />i can get the entire motor from the guy for $125.00 and you probably don't want to pay the freight for one with a blown block but I could get it and strip the parts you need. i'd need payment up front and would want to keep the carbs so figure $100.00 + shipping for anything else you want. if you're worried about paying a stranger up front please understand that i'm an average joe god fearing straight up guy. was born and raised that way. i sell on ebay and you can check my feedback. just go to www.ebay.com and type in 4530009555 in the "search" box and hit enter. That will take you to a page for an 18hp Evinrude I just sold and just click where you see wecachem2 to see my feedback. i follow the golden rule. i don't jack people round cause i don't want that from them. let me know.<br />be well.<br />JC

 

[slabhunter]

Re: Evinrude hard cranking-won't start

Originally posted by slabhunter:<br />

Originally posted by papasage:<br /> 1973 was eletric shift that is what i have . and yes i would be interested in the manul shift . it will fit but need some parts off the power head to . the plate under the carbs and the shifter on the side that the cables hook to .as best as i can remember that is all . the shift diaode has to be removed an d mabt something else . it has ben10 years sinse i did that . it isent a simple swap the bottom porton . i would just pull power head and put mine on the standard shift foot . papasage

 

[slabhunter]

Re: Evinrude hard cranking-won't start

papasage,<br />sorry, i spoke too soon. i emailed the guy with the 50hp and he sold it earlier today. he's had it for sale for weeks. my apology.<br />JC

 

[papasage]

Re: Evinrude hard cranking-won't start

thanks slabhunter maby will run into another one one day if i dont sell the motor . if the piston that i have ordered works out in the 70 hp . i will be taking the 50 off the boat it is on and put the 70 on . the 50 is working fine right now but would like to have a standard shift on it . it will sell easier . the boat is rated for 65 and the 50 just isent enough when i take more than 2 people . ok thanks anyway . papasage

 

[papasage]

Re: Evinrude hard cranking-won't start

need some carbs for the 50 hp i have some and some other parts let me know .also some parts for 70 hp evinrude .have a couple of old merc. e mail me at papasage10@yahoo.com

 

[slabhunter]

Re: Evinrude hard cranking-won't start

I was just going to keep the carbs as spares if you didn't need them. Have you looked on Ebay? There's always lower J/E lowers there. But yeah the other hardware would be trickier to find unless you get a whole parts motor locally. These early 70's motors are popping up pretty frequently and getting cheaper so you should be able to find one. I know what you mean about needing more power. That extra weight murders performance. Can't compress a liquid true. But in 1500 acres of water you can sure move it around a lot without making much headway! LOL My old 65hp Mercury took all day to plain with more than 2 adults in it. <br />Wish ya luck<br />JC