SPARK IS ERRATIC help, season is flying by without me!

[ICE COP]

Hi, I have a new to me 1989 120 hp evinrude, I believe you folks call it a looper. Engine settings (timing,sprk advance, idle etc played with before I got it.) Compression is 120 on each cylinder when hot. You will think me crazy but since this engine was new to me I wanted a clean start so the following have been installed brand new:- plugs correctly gapped, new coils, new power pack, new regulator/rectifier and carbs rebuilt/cleaned. Fuel tank, lines, primer bulb and filter are new. Engine will start but not running correctly. Currently at mechanic as I believed it just needed to be linked and sync'd and timing set with a test wheel in the test tank as I had no desire to be hanging off the back of a boat turning 5000 rpm's and couldn't seem to figure out if the quick start feature was actually bypassed in order to use Joe Reves method. The machanic who has pulled flywhel, cleaned some rust and has told me erractic spark and needs to fix this to finish tune-up of engine. I did not speak with him directly but was read this off the work order, he is an older gentleman who has always done right by me but I'd rather replace a stator or timing ring if needed than miss any more time without the boat but don't want to be telling him how to do his job. Your suggestions as to where to look if I decide to go get this would be a big help. I do have the omc tech manual complete for 2-300 hp engines and I am mechanically inclined as I maintain both 454 chevy's along with the generator in my large boat but am not familier with outboards larger than 23-30 hp. Forgot to mention new fuel pump and no VRO connected anymore.
Thanks, Kevin

 

[nwcove]

Re: SPARK IS ERRATIC help, season is flying by without me!

will admitted say i dont know anything about those big hp motors, but i do know that here in the northeast the boating season is very short! (so i'll respond, just to bring your post back to the top, so the guys that do know, can pass on some knowledge)

 

[ohioriverat]

Re: SPARK IS ERRATIC help, season is flying by without me!

I know the feeling i have a 70hp giving me a fit right now and it will probably turn out to be something very simple, i had a 89 gt150 that the timer base was bad and i went ahead and replaced the stator also. my stator had the fluid leaking down off of it so it was a no brainer, make sure your wiring harness is not starting to crumble, all those exposed wires could cause an erratic running engine, good luck the water is calling!!