60's Evinrude 85 HP won't start

[sianyde]

This outboard is I believe a 68 Evinrude 85 HP, with electric shift and manual choke. When I bought the boat, the owner started the engine and it fired up fine. Now I can't start it. First the starter was spinning slow so I replaced the battery terminal connectors, and now it spins fine and I have good voltage at the starter. The flywheel cranks but it won't turn over. I tested the sparkplugs at my auto mechanic's and they fired fine. I don't think they are firing on the outboard tho. When I crank the engine, the prop spins. I can turn it by hand one way but not the other. I think maybe the motor is in gear and won't fire unless its in neutral. However, when I press the shift buttons, I hear no sound near the motor and the prop behaves as before. The carburator cover says use Champion L-19V or AC V40FF plugs, but the plugs are champion L-76V. I figured that wouldn't matter b/c the boat started before. Can some one please point me in the right direction as to what to try next.

 

[saxis]

Re: 60's Evinrude 85 HP won't start

Pretty sure it needs to be in neutral to fire. I have a 40hp about the same age. I can't hear it shifting either, although it looked like prop was spinning while cranking on forward, and not spinning while in neutral. I would test the voltage coming from your control box and again going into the LU. On mine there are a couple of knife connections going down the leg that aren't too difficult to get to. I couldn't say for sure the voltage you need to look for, but I'm sure someone will come along that will know... My seloc manual had this info.

 

[sianyde]

Re: 60's Evinrude 85 HP won't start

OK this is my first boat. There are a bunch of wires behind the flywheel, but I'm not sure what any of them are for. Some run to the solenoid. Would you happen to know which ones would be for the shift, and is it possible to 'jump' them somehow to get it to shift, just in case the prob is in the shifter (its push button, and its going to be a project to get it off to look at it; rusted screws and all)

 

[saxis]

Re: 60's Evinrude 85 HP won't start

Barring in mind that our motors are prob a bit different (40hp vs. 85hp) I can only tell you how I tested mine. I did do a test direct from the shift wires going into the control. The wires going into it are green/red/blue on mine, two of them go down the leg on the starboard side (manual said port, it was wrong). Got to mine by taking the covers off the leg and a small square plate on starboard side. Behind the plate was a clamp that holds the shift wires. The knife connections were above this plate, allowing you to pull the shift wires through the leg while taking the LU off. Really easy to find, they were the only wires headed in that direction. Yours may be slightly different.<br /><br />Edit: Not 100% sure, but think the voltage for mine was near 3v?? Someone will come along soon who knows your motor better.

 

[sianyde]

Re: 60's Evinrude 85 HP won't start

Are you talking about down the starboard side of the motor going to the LU? I think I'm going to need an impact wrench to get my LU off; I can't budge those 4 screws.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: 60's Evinrude 85 HP won't start

Did you check to see if you are getting spark at the plugs? It sounds like you removed the plugs and had them checked, but the question would be whether you are getting spark when cranking the engine.<br /><br />I think I would not get too far into disassembly. The lower unit on that model has more than the visible bolts, for example. The shift selector has a plastic yoke under the top plate that, as I recall, prevents the operator from engaging the forward or reverse buttons when the throttle is advanced beyond the neutral indent. Additionally, a neutral safety switch will keep the starter from engaging if the throttle lever is advanced beyond the indent. But if the starter is engaging and spinning the flywheel, I think you should expect to get spark at the plugs even if the motor were in gear (the default postion, I think). It's possible that the motor is not actually in gear when you are turning it over in neutral, and that the spinning of the prop is centrifugal force -- but actually in neutral.<br /><br />Push the neutral button and turn it over, or have a friend do it, and check the plugs for spark.

 

[sianyde]

Re: 60's Evinrude 85 HP won't start

I have pressed the neutral button and started. The prop still spins, and I can't get spark at any plug (I'm touching it to the engine block). Perhaps the transmission being out of neutral acts as sort of a kill switch? Also, I can press any of the buttons no matter where the throttle lever is. I talked to s/o about the prop spinning even in neutral, but we decided that if it were in neutral, I should be able to spin it in both directions by hand. I can only spin it in one.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: 60's Evinrude 85 HP won't start

agree -- sounds like the prop is in gear during your hand test. On the lack of spark, I recall that I was able to start my '70 in gear (also had the selectric shift) -- the plastic guard was broken, allowing me to push in the F or R button and crank the motor.<br /><br />Of course, some other safety device might also have been inoperative on mine -- and operating on yours.<br /><br />Unfortunately, I can't offer any other suggestions at the moment (think my '70 had a powerpack, and that is always a consideration if you can't get spark).

 

[saxis]

Re: 60's Evinrude 85 HP won't start

Even with it in gear, the plastic piece does not stop you from cranking the engine, at least not on mine. It only stops you from shifting while throttled up. The plastic has nothing to do with starting... It does sound like it is in gear, and according to my 40hp, it will not start in gear... not sure if it will still spark in gear or not, I just know that it will not start. Either way, you will still probably need to take the back of your control off and test the voltage/continuity of the wires when you push the gear buttons. You will need to make sure you have battery connected with the key on of course to get power to it.