joe reeves//ques?

[redwolf]

hello joe,, I have an 1975 johnson 85 horse that sat for two years and now no spark, you told me to unhood the yellow black wire from the power pack and if I had spark than to check the ignition,, well I unhooked the yel/blk and only have spark to one out of the four plugs,, so I have a manual that I just got and it is for a 1974 it says that the power pack needs to be replaced,, the manual being a year off will it be the same? and do you think the power pack is the problem,,, in that manual it talks of a neon tester that lights,, what is that,the same as a test light?,, and the manual doesn't tell me what the compression should be, thanks a million joe,

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: joe reeves//ques?

Redwolf..... When you check the ignition (spark) the spark plugs must be removed, and the battery, cables, etc in good condition. The engine must be turning over at least 300 rpms in order to do the spark test. The spark should jump a 7/16" gap on all cylinders.<br /><br />If you had no spark with the black/yellow wire attached, but do have spark after you removed it, that would indicate either a short in the wiring harness somewhere or a shorted ignition switch.<br /><br />Double check the spark with the plugs out and the engine cranking as fast as possible. Don't want to replace a powerpack unless it's necessary.<br /><br />The compression should be 100+ psi and even on all cylinders. The neon light thing is not needed. Matter of fact, it's easier to check the ignition without it.<br /><br />A engine sitting that long is going to have fouled carburetors.