I need condensor tutorial. 1958 18 hp evinrude.

[Brianjason6]

My previous post was getting long and I still have a few questions..This time is..How do you know when a condensor is bad? What is their purpose? How do they work? My current problem is..I have two good coils, wire, plugs. The top cylinder is hitting some and missing some. I don't know if the coil is going bad (already has a break inside and is jumping fire) or if it could be condensor related. It runs perfect at first starting then jumps down to just bottom cylinder. More knowledge or links to learn would be helpfull. Thanks.

 

[bktheking]

Re: I need condensor tutorial. 1958 18 hp evinrude.

This is a really good article published by Fluke

http://assets.fluke.com/appnotes/electricalpower/B0271b_u.pdf

Condensors or capacitors (what they really are) act as a filter for the points to prevent arcing.

 

[rjezuit]

Re: I need condensor tutorial. 1958 18 hp evinrude.

For the price of a coil and condenser, just replace them. Rick

 

[Brianjason6]

Re: I need condensor tutorial. 1958 18 hp evinrude.

I just needed to awake the entire motor ignition. I stripped the magneto, cleaned it, tested the coils and condensors, cut 1/4 off of both ends of the plug wires and rebooted them, filed the points, and added some new plugs to top it off....DONE.

 

[glassmaster68]

Re: I need condensor tutorial. 1958 18 hp evinrude.

if your coil is cracked and jumping fire,,,definitely replace along with cond and point set,,not alot of doe and will last a while,,,cleaning filing points and such should be done in a pinch or stranded situation,but for what a firing set costs,i wouldnt want to trust filed points a long way from the shoreline,or maybe off the trailer for that matter

 

[mikesea]

Re: I need condensor tutorial. 1958 18 hp evinrude.

Wow,I remember this from mechanic school,1970's.The purpose of the condenser is to prevent arching from 1 point to the other during the open position,when the points are open ,the arch ,will transfer power to the condenser,when closed ,any power that the condenser received while points are open ,will then be transferred to the points when contact is made,the way to test actually is with a condenser tester,it would "load"the condenser and discharge,if it didnt charge ,it was probably shorted ,a shorted condenser will not do the job and power will be released to the ground,or an open,nothing happens,you can actually charge the condenser ,hold its charge and hit a guy with it ,you will get a shock.All that said,they are cheep,testers arent (if even around)as for the coils,they will naturally deteriorate over time from weather ,change them too ,a yearly maint .always was points ,condenser ,impeller ,lube ,in shop we would test coils for leakage and pressure test the lower unit

 

[Chris1956]

Re: I need condensor tutorial. 1958 18 hp evinrude.

Condensers are the automotive name for capaciters. These store electrical charges temporarily. In the case of an automotive (or marine) condenser, when the points are grounded, electricity is flowing to ground, as the points open the condenser absorbs the charge running thru the points, stopping them from arcing. After a short time the charge in the condenser is dumped into the open point circuit, which helps the collapse of the field in the primary side of the coil. As the primary field collapses, the second winding has an induced field, which fires the spark plug.

You can test a condenser (after a fashion) with an analog volt/ohmmeter. Set the meter to RX1 Ohm scale and connect the black lead to the condenser case. Now touch the red leas to the condenser lead. You will see a deflection in the meter. Now quickly change the meter to DC volts, and switch the leads on the condenser. You will see a deflection on the meter as the condenser discharges. This indicates a good condenser.

Of course, it is easier to just replace the condenser if you do not have spark.

 

[Brianjason6]

Re: I need condensor tutorial. 1958 18 hp evinrude.

Thanks everyone. It turned out to just be bad ends on the plug wires. The boot ends metal coils weren't making good contact as well as the condesor ends. The coils, points, condensors are all good. One coil is brand new and both read 8 on the x1 ohm setting.