lark II 40hp evenrude no power

[boots40]

I was recently given the above motor, I have a good start but no power, I noticed that a spark plug wire is very bad. My question is, is it very hard to change spark plug wire? If not how do I do it?

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: lark II 40hp evenrude no power

Welcome to iboats, boots!<br />A Lark II 40hp was built in 1960, but over time hoods get swapped. Try to get us the model number from the nameplate on top of the transom clamp, and we'll get you a positive ID.<br />You must pull the flywheel and remove the armature plate to access the ends of the spark plug wires.<br />Bad wires on these old outboards are rare, but if it's cracked or chafed, it's clearly bad and should be replaced.<br /><br />Does both your spark plug leads jump a 7/16" gap?<br />How's your compression?<br />Did you rebuild the carburetor? Do the adjustments "do anything?"<br /><br />Don't try to remove the flywheel without the correct tools. The first tool your going to need is a service manual. Get one from iboats, or borrow one from your local library, or order an OEM reprinted manual from one of the following locations:<br />TheOutboardWizard<br />Mastertech<br />Marine Engine<br />Ken Cook <br />Also check ebay for used manuals. Search for "Johnson manual" and "evinrude manual". An equivelant year Johnson is mechanically identical.<br />The other two tools youneed to pull a flywheel are:<br />An outboard flywheel puller or a beefy harmonic balancer puller and a set three 1/4"-20 long grade 8 bolts. Do not use any sort of puller that does not act on the three bolt holes around the flywheel nut!<br />And a torque wrench so you can torque the flywheel nut properly. It must be torqued to exactly 105ft/lbs or you end up breaking flywheel keys.<br /><br />Hope this gets you started!

 

[boots40]

Re: lark II 40hp evenrude no power

Thanks for the help. Sounds like a shop job to me. What if the end that goes on the plug has come off is that fixable or do i have to change the wire?

 

[boots40]

Re: lark II 40hp evenrude no power

Originally posted by Paul Moir:<br /> Welcome to iboats, boots!<br />A Lark II 40hp was built in 1960, but over time hoods get swapped. Try to get us the model number from the nameplate on top of the transom clamp, and we'll get you a positive ID.<br />You must pull the flywheel and remove the armature plate to access the ends of the spark plug wires.<br />Bad wires on these old outboards are rare, but if it's cracked or chafed, it's clearly bad and should be replaced.<br /><br />Does both your spark plug leads jump a 7/16" gap?<br />How's your compression?<br />Did you rebuild the carburetor? Do the adjustments "do anything?"<br /><br />Don't try to remove the flywheel without the correct tools. The first tool your going to need is a service manual. Get one from iboats, or borrow one from your local library, or order an OEM reprinted manual from one of the following locations:<br />TheOutboardWizard<br />Mastertech<br />Marine Engine<br />Ken Cook <br />Also check ebay for used manuals. Search for "Johnson manual" and "evinrude manual". An equivelant year Johnson is mechanically identical.<br />The other two tools youneed to pull a flywheel are:<br />An outboard flywheel puller or a beefy harmonic balancer puller and a set three 1/4"-20 long grade 8 bolts. Do not use any sort of puller that does not act on the three bolt holes around the flywheel nut!<br />And a torque wrench so you can torque the flywheel nut properly. It must be torqued to exactly 105ft/lbs or you end up breaking flywheel keys.<br /><br />Hope this gets you started!

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: lark II 40hp evenrude no power

I hope I'm not scaring you off. There's only a couple special tools you need at all for fixing anything on your outboard. If you have basic mechanical skills, you'll be able to fix it up yourself. Harmonic balancer pullers are easily gotten, and cheap. I got mine for around $15CDN.<br />If the spark plug connector (boot) has fallen off, I would replace the boot with a whole new one. The old one is probably not in the best of shape, and getting those types that OMC used back then back on correctly is tricky. You should be able to get a new end from any auto parts place or small engine repair shop. <br />If you're looking for spark plug wire, the small engine repair shop is the place to go. You must use metallic core sparkplug wire - not automotive "suppressor" wire. The size must be 7mm to fit the ignition coils properly.<br />When you have your flywheel off, carefully examine the ignition coils for cracks in their insulation. They are a common source of problems on these older Johnny/Rudes. Fortunetly, new ones are pretty cheap and easily available.<br /><br />I hope this helps!