1.5hp Johnson SC10S trouble after running submersion - has spark will not hit on ether

[Scanoeist]

Hello good people! I made the mistake of inviting some friends to join us on a river trip... I was piloting my 1.5hp johnson and scanoe while my wife ran my 10' flat bottom/3hp lightwin..... the friends wife was with my wife with our west highland terrier and the heaviest gear and the husband and their black lab were in the boat with me. Neither of them having any experience in a boat smaller than a pontoon. I knew letting the energetic 2 year old lab come along would be a mistake but it didnt feel right telling them they couldnt bring their dog but bringing mine but I just couldnt bear the thought of leaving my faithfull sidekick at home (I havent been on the river without him since he was born). Well to make a long story short, the lab, an overhanging limb and a few very startled does on the bank right in the narrowest and swiftest riffle on the whole trip conspired to capsize my faithful scanoe with the motor running.... All I can say is I am glad we set off upstream from the boat ramp first because the little lightwin couldnt pull all of us against the current and I HATE paddling.

Motor isnt locked, compression feels good when turned over with the rope. I have cleaned the fuel tank, lines, and carb, purged all the water I could from the motor and have a brand new cj8 spark plug gapped at .030 that shows good spark but the motor will not hit even on ether sprayed into the carb... I aint the greatest mechanic, but not totally ignorant, however I have never came across an engine of any kind that had spark and wouldnt hit on ether. And the whole points and condenser set up is a bit strange.... I guess its kinda like a giant distributer in a throttle body truck but with only one cyl so you dont gotta worry about sequence, but you do gotta consider timing? i assume? how can there (assumedly) be fuel (ether) in the cyl and spark at the plug and it not fire? Or is assuming the ether is making it to the cyl where I am messing up? I have cleaned many many carbs in my life, I know how to make sure a jet is clear etc...

Can anyone help me out with the best way to proceed ?

 

[racerone]

I do not believe you have what I call " strong spark "---Or possibly a reed valve was damaged by water ( crankcase compression ) during the " event " on the river.--So remove flywheel inspect coil.----Clean breaker points.-----If spark can not jump a gap of 1/4" you have NO SPARK in my opinion.---If point gap is 0.020" the timing will be right on.----This magneto set-up was used for about 40 years and nothing strange about it.---Simple as can be to those who know how they work.----Sorry to be blunt.-----Make sure you get it running soon as water on the bearings is lethal if motor sits too long.

 

[F_R]

I also suspect engine damage from trying to compress water. I've seen more than one connecting rod bent in engines that went for a swim while running. But yeah, reeds or head gasket are prime suspects.

 

[Scanoeist]

thanks for the input... im going to try a few things and will update