Mystery ignition problem repairman can't answer. See video

[Pleasure Boat Junction]

I explained this to the local evinrude repairman, and he said he has never heard of this happening before, and has no idea what the problem is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7OLnbQqEMQ

This is the 1970 evinrude triumph 60hp that I posted about a couple of weeks ago. The video shows what is happening with the sparkplugs as I turn the ignition on and off and crank the engine. As noted in previous post, engine will only run on one cylinder and pops and backfires like it is out of time when power is applied. That sizzling sound the spark plugs make can occasionally be heard coming from under the flywheel, probably from the points.
Sparks were noted jumping from the coil to the ground. I assume this means it will problably need a new coil, but I don't think the coil is the cause of the problem shown in the video.
Anyone had this problem?


Photo is of the side of the engine

 

[F_R]

Re: Mystery ignition problem repairman can't answer. See video

Well here is another Evinrude repairman that has never heard of that either.

But I will say that model is one of the most finicky motors I know. Everything has to be right or it won't run well. The noise you hear under the flywheel must be arcing within the distributor cap. That cap & rotor design wasn't one of OMC's finest moments.

 

[boobie]

Re: Mystery ignition problem repairman can't answer. See video

I've seen this same problem ..YEARS ago and if I remember right I replaced the power pack and the prob went away.

 

[Daviet]

Re: Mystery ignition problem repairman can't answer. See video

If it were mine I would start with what I knew what was wrong. Pull the flywheel and check the dist cap, rotor, plug wires and make sure the points are set correctly.
Replace the defective coil and make sure all wire connections are clean and tight.
In the end boobie is probably correct, you will end up replacing the power pack.

 

[BigB9000]

Re: Mystery ignition problem repairman can't answer. See video

Here are my thoughts, exactly what I said while watching the video:

WHAT THE DUCK?! (I had to clean it up little bit)

 

[jonesg]

Re: Mystery ignition problem repairman can't answer. See video

Thats funny as hell, reminds me of a model T ford coil, we used them to fire a pulse jet engine and they spark like that, a constant stream.

If the dist cap has carbon tracks it might do that.
Otherwise I'd agree power pack leaking all over the place internally.
Or damaged leaky wiring under the flywheel.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Mystery ignition problem repairman can't answer. See video

start by fixing an obviously defective coil.
then remove the flywheel and inspect or replace the rotor and cap and possibly the points. make sure the anti reverse spring is in good shape and properly installed.
the amplifier is doing what its supposed to do so unless a DVA reading indicates its bad I would leave it alone.
last rotor I bought was almost 40 dollars and the last cap was about 120 and the last amplifier was in kit form and about 360.
that was all at least 10 years ago.not sure the cap and rotor are still avalible as some where in 73 or 74 was the last of the amplifier systems from OMC.

 

[Pleasure Boat Junction]

Re: Mystery ignition problem repairman can't answer. See video

OK, first thank everybody for your suggestions. I don't think I want to put a whole lot into this motor. It was running good until now, but it's almost too big for the boat I put it on, and it's really ugly and in rough shape due to a previouis owners old paint job.

I've seen here in the past where it's possible to put an automotive coil in place of the original. Would that be possible to do in this situation as a replacement for the power pack and original coil?

Well, yesterday and today kinda sucked. I was using this as an excuse to get my old reliable '59 35hp lark out of the basement and put it back on the boat. I took the 60 off and put the 35 back on and noticed a crack by the skeg. Even though the seals were replaced, it looks to me like water must have gotten in there and froze. Proabably the end of 2007, and I just discovered it. I don't think hitting something would have done that.

I also had a '60 40hp lark II in the basement, so I decided to pull the bottom off the 35hp and put the one from the 40 hp on. Then I decided to just put the 40hp on to see if it's any good. I'll start a new thread abut the problem I ran into with that tonight.
To top it off, for some reason the seal in the fuel line decided to go bad.

40 hp on left, 35 in center, 60 on right.

 

[F_R]

Re: Mystery ignition problem repairman can't answer. See video

Back to the 60hp, I think there is a problem with the breaker points or the wires going to them. I think there is a zzzzzztt arcing in the circuit. Like the points are closed but not quite and they are arcing. Every "z" retriggers the amplifier for another spark. The amplifier is doing its job, sparking with every trigger pulse. In other words, dirty points or bad connection.

No you can't use a car coil. Many have tried, and I have yet to hear a long term success story. The points' dwell is way off, for one thing.

 

[Pleasure Boat Junction]

Re: Mystery ignition problem repairman can't answer. See video

Back to the 60hp, I think there is a problem with the breaker points or the wires going to them. I think there is a zzzzzztt arcing in the circuit. Like the points are closed but not quite and they are arcing. Every "z" retriggers the amplifier for another spark. The amplifier is doing its job, sparking with every trigger pulse. In other words, dirty points or bad connection.

I'll give it a thorough going over to see if anything is loose.