'76 Evinrude 35 hp (spark)

Deanrt

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Messages
99
Hi all, its been awhile since I was here but here I go. My motor was running a little sluggish last summer so I thought I would change the plugs. Instead of taking one with me I just wrote the #'s down out of the manual. Well they didnt have those (Nappa) so he gave me what the book called for. Got home put em in and it wouldnt start. Took em out and compared em to the old ones and noticed they were "long reach" and the old ones werent. Take em back, guy snickers and says thats what I asked for, bla bla. Well now I have no spark any ideas? Sorry for the ramble. Thanks, Dean

PS: It kinda feels like I presented this issue before , oh well :)
 

Deanrt

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Messages
99
Re: '76 Evinrude 35 hp (spark)

Thanks for that info. I did get the plug issue figured out im just wondering if anyone has an idea about where I should start in terms of trouble shooting this thing. Coils come to mind as do the points, condenser's and anything electical. I just cant afford to replace everything right now, just looking for ideas. Thanks, Dean
 

HighTrim

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jun 21, 2007
Messages
10,486
Re: '76 Evinrude 35 hp (spark)

Check out the FAQ for a thread by JB entitled Outboard Wont Start. However, if you are sure that the NO SPARK scenario is your issue, the following is from the CDI Troubleshooting Guide. Let us know what you find.

NO SPARK ON EITHER CYLINDER:

1. Disconnect the black yellow stop wire and retest. If the engine's ignition has spark, the stop circuit has a fault-check the key switch, harness and shift switch.

2. Check the stator resistance. You should read approximately 500 ohms from the brown wire to engine ground.

3. Check the DVA output from the stator. You should have a reading of at least 150V or more from the brown wire to engine ground (while connected to the pack).

4. Check the timer base?s resistance from the black/white wire to the white/black wire. Reading should be 10-20 ohms (or 30-40 ohms for CDI Electronics 133-0875K1). Note: The original factory specifications was 8-14 ohms, this was changed around the mid 1970?s in response to the change in SCR?s triggering requirements.

5. Check the DVA output from the timer base. A reading of at least 0.5V or more from the black/white wire to the white/black (while connected to the pack) is needed to fire the pack. If the output is low, you may try to reset the air gap between the timer base sensor and the triggering magnet.
a. Loosen the two mounting screws on the sensor and the nut located in the epoxy on the outside of the heat shield of the timer base.
b. Slide the sensor in toward the crankshaft approximately 0.005? at a time.
c. Coat the face of the sensor with machinists bluing or equivalent.
d. Install the flywheel according to the service manual and crank the engine over.
e. Remove the flywheel and check to see if the trigging magnet struck the sensor face.
f. If the ignition fired, finger tight the nut on the outside of the heat shield and coat it with RTV.
g. If still no fire, slide the sensor in another 0.005? and repeat steps c through f.

6. Check the DVA voltage on each trigger wire to engine ground. You should have a reading of at least 150V or more from the black/white wire and the white/black wire to engine ground (while connected to the pack). If the reading is low, disconnect the trigger wires from the pack and recheck the terminals on the pack. If the voltage jumps up to an acceptable reading, the timer base may have a problem in it?s internal wiring (A thin spot in the insulation on one wire).

7. Check the cranking RPM. A cranking speed of less than 250-RPM will not allow the system to spark properly.
 

F_R

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
28,226
Re: '76 Evinrude 35 hp (spark)

All well and good except the 1976 35hp doesn't have CDI ignition. It has the Low Tension Magneto. Wrong spark plugs cannot cause it to lose spark. About the only things that can cause it to suddenly lose spark on both cylinders at the same time are a shorted ignition/stop switch or sheared flywheel key. At least those are the first things to consider. Could be an open driver coil too.
 

Deanrt

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Messages
99
Re: '76 Evinrude 35 hp (spark)

No CDI, unfourtunatley.

F_R, I know it's not the flywheel key, thanks for your imput, but what is an open driver coil?
 

F_R

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
28,226
Re: '76 Evinrude 35 hp (spark)

The driver coil is the coil under the flywheel that generates the electricity to feed (drive) the exterior spark coils. "Open" means an open circuit...no continuity....broken wire internally in the driver coil or externally. It could also be shorted internally.
 

Deanrt

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Messages
99
Re: '76 Evinrude 35 hp (spark)

Gotchya thanks. Could it be...I feel like such a dummy asking this...that when I checked the spark I didnt turn the key on? I have the battery out of the boat and took it from the garage with jumper cables and used those to turn it over. I know the plugs were good, I got spark from two different sets off my kicker motor. Hopefully thats all it is, next time I have the cover off ill hook it (batt) up and do it the right way. Thanks again, Dean
 

Deanrt

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Messages
99
Re: '76 Evinrude 35 hp (spark)

No, really, if the battery was not hooked up and I used jumper cables right to the starter and the key was not in the on position would I not get spark? Sumtim tells me I wouldnt! Any thoughts?
 

fix_it

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 31, 2008
Messages
38
Re: '76 Evinrude 35 hp (spark)

I'm pretty sure (almost positive actually) that ther will be no spark if the key is off. Unless you disconnected the kill wires somewhere. That would be the only way to have spark with the key off.
 
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