Evinrude no spark

[Boatlost]

Will you guys please help me. I have 1992 40HP evinrude that will not spark. The weird part is that it runs all year but if its parked for the winter and I get it out for spring it will not spark. The last time it did this I took it to the boat mechanic and it fired right up. If it fires once it will run all year until parked for the winter. It does this every year and the mechanic didnt know what it was. I did notice the tachometer acting up at times when the engine ran. I know in a car that usualy means the ignition modual is going out. When I say it wont run its due to no spark at the plugs. I also get no pulse to the coil. If I check the orange wires from the stator I get about 3 volts when cranking. I have checked every conection I can find and bypassed the kill switch. The backside of the ignition modual look OK. Can you please tell me where to check?<br /><br />Thank you<br />Keith

 

[rwise]

Re: Evinrude no spark

Boatlost<br />I will be watching this thread as a friend just bought a boat with the same symtoms, per the previous owner.<br />Welcome to Iboats

 

[Walker]

Re: Evinrude no spark

First thing I'd check would be the safety switch

 

[Boatlost]

Re: Evinrude no spark

I checked the switch and bypassed it with no luck.

 

[jgrisham02633]

Re: Evinrude no spark

Hi boatlost, the fact that your tach is acting funny is an indication that it's your regulator/rectifier, or just your rectifier as they send your signal to your tach and they govern voltage, My regulator needed to be replaced a week back and the motor would not start unless I turned both my batteries on at the switch even though it cranked fine with one.I replaced the regulator and it starts on one battery with just a tap. I think a rectifier should not be to expensive for your motor, but not sure. Good Luck

 

[jgrisham02633]

Re: Evinrude no spark

If you really get stuck you could pull the flywheel and clean up what you can underneath, it might get a little crusty from sitting around

 

[fireman57]

Re: Evinrude no spark

If you are in fact getting no pulse to the coils I agree with jgrisham that you need to check the rectifier. Buy a manual. They are not that expensive and will save you not only a headache but a lot of money and time. Fishing time that is.

 

[Boatlost]

Re: Evinrude no spark

Thank you guys. I will check into that. I did pull the flywheel and it was very clean under there. Is the aluminum box with the cooling fins the rectifier?

 

[jgrisham02633]

Re: Evinrude no spark

It sounds right, not too familiar with your motor but if you have a regulator/rectifier combo it should have two yellow wires to stator, one of wich may have a gray stripe, a purple keyed 12volt, a grey tach signal, and a red.

 

[Boatlost]

Re: Evinrude no spark

Mr.Grisham, It has the color wires you mention. You think this will fix my engine? Where is the best place to buy one?<br /><br />Thank you<br />Keith

 

[fireman57]

Re: Evinrude no spark

Keep your local dealer happy and buy it from him. Never know when you might need him. He also may be able to test the one you have for a nominal charge. Talk to him. You can price parts all over the web including here. You still need to buy an OEM manual.