Eska 15 Electrical Problem! (Something "new" Huh!??)

[11echo]

OK this is my first post so be easy on me! ...From what I have already read this is a common problem with Eska outboards with the solid state ignition. BUT I have a different twist on things.
I had an Eska 15 jump into my lap ...kinda like the stray cats that seem to take up residences here! Anyway I cleaned it up and fired it up ...at low speed it misses badly, BUT at mid & high RMP it runs great! I took it into the local shop (they about told me where to put this motor!) but I got them check it out anyway. They couldn?t tell exactly what was "bad" but pointed to the electronics & the fact you can?t get parts, so a ?safe? call on their part. ?SO at low RPM I have an intermittent spark ...would that be a bad "magneto" ?OR a bad "transformer" (coil)? Reason I'm asking is I have access to a coil, just don't want to buy it if that's not a "reasonable" part replacement that may be causing my problem (I'm not an "electrical" guy). ?Any help would greatly be appreciated!

 

[Tom @ Buzzard Bluff]

Re: Eska 15 Electrical Problem! (Something "new" Huh!??)

Take a look at <http://home.earthlink.net/~edstoller/index.html> That site has a good bit of tech info on the Tecumseh CDI system. It's too technical for me but perhaps you can find some parts values that will help you test your ignition.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Eska 15 Electrical Problem! (Something "new" Huh!??)

When you say it runs good at high speed, are you talking about running it on the boat on a lake or in a barrel. If in a barrel, it could still be running on one cylinder. My 9.9 was like that. Sounded fine, but was running on one cylinder and wouldn't perform on the water.

As for telling whether it's the coil or the stuff under the flywheel, that's tough. The original manual said to test the parts by swapping a known good one. That's not much help.

If you can determine which plug is firing and which is not, you can swap the external transformers and see if the problem moves to the other cylinder. Test by trying to run the engine with one spark plug wire off. If it runs with the plug wire off one, then that's the bad one.

When you pull the rope on that engine, there should be a voltage pulse to the terminal on the coils. Do NOT pull the rope with the wire to the transformer from under the flywheel disconnected. That's a sure way to fry the solid state ignition module. You have to test with the wire connected to the transformer.

I don't know what voltage to expect, but it should be the same on both coil's primary wires. If it's lower or non-existent on one, then it's the module under the flywheel that's bad, most likely.

Prepare yourself for disappointment. Every 9.9 or 15 Eska I've looked at had something wrong with its ignition system. I looked at a lot of them, trying to find a way to fix my 9.9. No joy.

There is the $250 replacement stator from CDI, but that's more than the outboard is worth.

Sad stuff.

 

[mrcrabs]

Re: Eska 15 Electrical Problem! (Something "new" Huh!??)

250$ is not that much money, were talking Eskas here....there worth it!