1954 Johnson cd-11 5.5hp with no spark after coil change

[Jorge922]

I am a newby to outboard repair and have been given a 1954 Johnson 5.5 ho cd-11 outboard. When running it I could not get it to idle down. I determined that the bottom cylinder was not running. Pulled the fw and found cracked and ugly coils. I have replaced the coils and now get no spark on either cylinder. I have not replaced the points and condensers as of yet. I do get continuity on both hi tension wires. I was not for sure which wire was the ground so I have tried it with both wires going to ground (one at a time) with no difference. What would make the spark disappear on both cylinders?

 

[racerone]

The motor has 2 independent ignition systems.----Replace the condensers.----Clean / set breaker points.----You did remove the magplate to install / screw wires into the new coils?

 

[Crosbyman]

clean clean clean the points ! usually helps. make certain no wires touch the rotating cam .tuck them neatly under the coils

may as well adjust timing while working in there

to service these old motors the best book to download for $20... print double sided and bind in 2 books or store on your laptop.

watercraftmanuals.com › johnson › johnson-3022311922-1964 Johnson 302231 Outboard Service Manual​

https://watercraftmanuals.com/outboard/johnson/johnson-302231.htm

 

[Crosbyman]

btw lots of utubes on the subject. may as well change old plug wires (use metallic strand wire 7mm ONLY!) NO CARBON STUFF
and change the impeller !! see video... loks hard to do but it is easy !!
try not to damage the base gasket ... if you order a new one...Carefull patterns differ !!
round carbon seal is DELICATE!!! careful not the break it !

great motors btw !!! if grandpa kept it oiled 16/1...minimum 25/1

 

[Jorge922]

I did not remove the mag plate when I installed the coils. I did clean the points. Today I replaced the condensers and gapped the points. Still no spark.
The motor was puttingbout plenty of water when it was only running on one cylinder.

 

[Jorge922]

The motor has 2 independent ignition systems.----Replace the condensers.----Clean / set breaker points.----You did remove the magplate to install / screw wires into the new coils?

I was able to loosen the plug wires enough to pull them through to screw the coils on them.

 

[kbait]

Pull armature plate and re-install coils after cutting off 1/4” from each plug wire for positive connections..

 

[Jorge922]

Pull armature plate and re-install coils after cutting off 1/4” from each plug wire for positive connections..

Hi, I did cut 1/4” off of the high tension wires before I screwed them to the coils. I have continuity from boot to ground on both wires. I can remove the coils and plate, if it would help, and sdrew the lines in again. I noticed on the tune-up video that I put the coil wires in the wrong places/ routes. I will change that tomorrow.