Replacement coils

[thelmuth]

I have a 1989 125 HP Force. It needs coils, but after having just replaced both Power Packs I can't afford the CDI ones at $60 each. Has anyone ever used a different, less expensive coil. I can find some for Evinrude for less than $30 each but am wondering about the electrical compatibility. The mount is obviously different but modifying wouldn't be much of an issue.

What say yee?

 

[pnwboat]

Re: Replacement coils

There's a few used ones out on the auction sites for less than $20 - $40.

Are you sure it's the coils? The coils are generally pretty reliable. The metal spring connector inside the boot sometimes gets pretty corroded and makes it hard to check with an OHM meter....flaky readings. Have you measured the resistance of the stator windings?

 

[thelmuth]

Re: Replacement coils

Spark leaking to ground where the plug wire comes out on two of them. I have a set of used coils from a parts motor I bought. 2 of them the primary lead was broken off at the base. I have the best of what I have installed now. I don't want to risk it with used ones, if I'm going to spend money I want new.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Replacement coils

Sent U a pm

 

[thelmuth]

Re: Replacement coils

I swapped the coil that was leaking spark badly with one of the spare ones I have. Still not firing #4 cylinder, good strong spark. Compression test #1-145. #2-150, #3-145, #4-120.

I'm tired of throwing money into this engine trying to get it to run right. After this last compression test I decided that I'm just gonna run it as it is until it blows then call Tow Boat US.

Jerry, thanks for the offer but I'm gonna let it go, perhaps you can help someone else in the near future.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Replacement coils

The low comp on #4 could be just a bad head gasket.
Any water on the plug?
Most of the time I've found the lower cylinders,the head gasket goes before the top ones.
The gaskets easy to check.
The bolts should come loose easy,they only have 20 # of tourqe.
You could have an easy 35$ fix??
If you need it redone there are people close by who can fix it.

 

[thelmuth]

Re: Replacement coils

Jerry, thanks for your activity on the forum. I have read many of your replies to people's requests for help and you seem to be very knowledgeable on these motors.

Some history behind this boat. It sat for 5 years. I got it in trade for pouring a slab for a garage. The previous owner said they had the motor rebuilt by "some guy". Second trip out it developed a knock. The guy wouldn't stand behind it. They parked it.

I put a battery in it and ran a compression test, #4 only had 65, others were around 120. I flooded it with PB Blaster and let it sit for a couple days. Compression came up to acceptable level. Cleaned the carbs and got it running. Heard the knock. Pulled the powerhead and disassembled it to check the bearings etc. found the flywheel nut loose and flywheel wobbling slightly. Continued with disassembly/inspection and didn't find any other problem. Reassembled and knock was gone.

It ran ok but I was never able to get above about 4200 RPM out of it. I have continually tweaked things trying to make it better. We took it to the keys for our 25th anniversary last summer and it developed a miss which ended up being the trigger wire connection at the buss bar under the heat shrink.

I just replaced both the power packs because I had an intermittent spark on #2. Packs fixed that problem. I Rebuilt the carbs just before replacing the packs and now I have gone full circle to low compression on #4.

Tired of putting lipstick on a pig. Thanks again for your advice and help.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Replacement coils

The history makes a difference.
The not getting above the 4200 "could" be the wrong prop.(for the future)
Yea and low comp.Anything done other than a real fix is a bandaid fix and the cancer 's gonna come back.
Sent another PM