1987 15hp Power Pack Troubleshooting

[vettenuts]

Hi,

First post. I just picked up a 1987 15hp Evinrude as a stablemate to my 1956 7-1/2hp Evinrude. The 15hp has a CDI ignition but not spark. I have checked the ohms back through the cable to those parts under the flywheel and they are higher then those specified in the CDI troubleshooting chart I am not sure that that is where the problem lies. I suspect the power pack but don't have any trouble shooting procedures for it, is there any way to verify the power pack is good or bad short of replacing it? I did check the kill switch and it is working properly.

Thanks for any insight.

 

[bktheking]

Re: 1987 15hp Power Pack Troubleshooting

Yes you can test it, I'd trust the DVA results over the ohms reading, ohms are only half the test. Chances are it is the powerpack but I'm not a fan of replacing expensive parts without testing everything out.

Did you check the wiring going to the pack as well as the ground connections? Did you pull the flywheel and check the trigger for condition and wiring? Is this electric start?

 

[vettenuts]

Re: 1987 15hp Power Pack Troubleshooting

I didn't pull the flywheel I just checked the resistance readings per the pinout that CDI Electronics has on line for a no spark condition. Checked grounds through pins although they have been cleaned as well. Also checked for short to ground through pins. Disconnected kill switch and checked it with meter both with the kill switch deactivated and activated, seems to work fine but for now the ground for the kill switch is disconnected.

Motor is not electric start.

 

[vettenuts]

Re: 1987 15hp Power Pack Troubleshooting

Ordered a factory service manual tonight along with a DVA adapter for my Fluke meter. Hopefully I can isolate the problem.

 

[bktheking]

Re: 1987 15hp Power Pack Troubleshooting

Great investment, everyone should have a DVA

 

[vettenuts]

Re: 1987 15hp Power Pack Troubleshooting

Looking forward to getting the factory manual as well, it should be so much better then the one I have for the older engine (Clymer or something like that).

 

[bktheking]

Re: 1987 15hp Power Pack Troubleshooting

Way better for the entire motor, but for this the cdi troubleshooting info would be fine for figuring out the PP. Either way you are leaps and bounds and you won't be buying parts you do not need.

 

[vettenuts]

Re: 1987 15hp Power Pack Troubleshooting

Thought I would post an update. After trouble shooting with the service manual and DVA, I found 0.8 volts (that right) on the primary for the coil coming out of the power pack. I also found one coil that was double the specified ohms on the secondary side.

I ordered a new CDI power pack and was going to order one new factory coil but noticed that the CDI coil was $12 cheaper and came with a new spark plug wire so for $10 more I elected to replace both coils with new CDI units and new spark plugs wires while it was apart.

Bottom line, spark is strong enough now to make a "snap" sound on the spark plug tester

 

[bktheking]

Re: 1987 15hp Power Pack Troubleshooting

So the big question, does it run?

 

[vettenuts]

Re: 1987 15hp Power Pack Troubleshooting

Finally got to start it on the muffs yesterday at my brother's. (He gave me the motor). He said it never ran that well for him and I adjusted the carb and it idles down very nice. Very pleased so far, next step is to touch up the paint.