evinrude spark advance arm

[barbwire44]

I have a 1973 v-4 evinrude that is hard to start cold, runs fine once running but takes alot of cranking when cold. SO i checked the the choke flaps and the solenoid and they are fine the choke closes the flaps totally, but the spark advance arm does not always hit the stopper when I raise the start lever the arm will get about 1/2" from the stop and stop, but I can by hand pust the arm to the stops easily and after doing this the start lever will also make the arm hit the stops but if left in the running position for 5 or 10 minutes the start lever will do the same thing the spark advance will get close to moving fully into position but will fall short by a 1/2"?????? Not sure if something is just gummed up or what to do, it doesn't seem to be an adjustment just a sticky arm???? how do I fix it??

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: evinrude spark advance arm

It would be best to remove, clean, and re-grease all the pivot points, including the mag. plate.

 

[barbwire44]

Re: evinrude spark advance arm

Ok, sorry but what is the mag plate and how do you get to it??? Also is this an easy job, something I can do without fear of getting the carb, ignition, out of sync??? Thouhgt about spraying the arm with kroil or wd-40 to see if it it would help but was afraid it may require grease and doing this would wash all the grease out??
thanks again I know I need to buy a manual for this engine it is just with its age of a 1973 I don't know how long it will run until something major goes bad, and I will most likely try to find a newer motor to repalce it with. It's been a good engine so far, but with it's age I am always leary of far trips with it and the family.

 

[F_R]

Re: evinrude spark advance arm

The spark advance is not supposed to go all the way to the rubber bumper to start the motor.
That's not to say it isn't sticky.

Cold starting problems are usually choke problems. Try holding the choke solenoid plunger down lightly with your finger and see if it doesn't start right up. That is a two stage choke. Many have been modified. You need voltage on both the purple/white and purple/yellow wires to get proper choking.

 

[barbwire44]

Re: evinrude spark advance arm

The choke solenoid attaches to an arm that closes the butterfly flaps, it seems to only go totally shut, not an inbetween if thats what you mean. I will test the power on it tonight and see how it reads, I appreciate your help, just kind of embarassing sitting in the water cranking the engine everytime it sits long enough to cool down..LOL!!!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: evinrude spark advance arm

barbwire44, I have a '73 V4 as well. Don't be afraid of it. Once you get it running properly I see no reason that it wouldn't be as reliable as much newer motors. Plus, parts are still readily available.

 

[barbwire44]

Re: evinrude spark advance arm

ezmobee I know it is probably built better than the newer motors and actually it has been in the family for a long time, my dad bought it I believe around 1982 ran it for a year or two and then it died, when he took it to the local marina as the story goes I don't remember and the ole mans memory could be off a bit but he wanted to get it rebuilt or a new powerhead and the fellow runnin the marina said it just so happens we gotta good engine here with a broken lower unit, now dad tells me they put jugs and heads from a 100 hp evinrude on it for the rebuild, but I was told lately that wasn't possible and it is more likely a 115 powerhead on this 85 unit, the cowl says 85, the lower tags are for an 85..LOL!!! to be honest I don't know what the hell it is, but it really runs strong, dad had it on a 16' aluminum sea nymph and that boat would run 70 mph!! I was in it and remember it well. But now I have it and it is mounted on my 97 sunbird 170 and it won't do 70 mph, but it will run 35 mph and get up on plane in no time, pulls skiers wakeboards tubes everything really easy with a load of people in it. The darn thing is just hard to start, seems it will always eventually fire up but may take a few minutes of playing with the choke the advance etc.. to do it. Once running it doesn't miss a beat and will fire up instantly, sometimes the idle seems a bit low and it may die a couple times if you don't raise the start lever a smidge to pick the idle up but that may be my fault I just put new cables on it and didn't have a clue what I was doing so they may be out of wack a bit. Hours wise I don't know what is on it, I was a kid and remember fishing quite a bit on the weekends through the summer but mainly going point a to b and that was it, we had a 9.9 kicker and used it to troll with, the thing may have 500 hours on it and it may be 2000 I don't know. Just wish I could get it to fire up easily and I would be a happy boater!!
thanks guys

 

[F_R]

Re: evinrude spark advance arm

Barbwire, I assumed the choke might be closing. My question is is it closing tight enough? Engine vacuum wants to pull it open. That is why I said to put a bit of finger pressure on it to see if that helps.

 

[barbwire44]

Re: evinrude spark advance arm

oh...I gotcha, heck never checked it while turning the engine over...LOL!!! That's a pretty darn good idea, I will do that tonight also, you guys are good!!!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: evinrude spark advance arm

Mine was a bear to get started and keep it running the first time of the day. I found that the manual choke "switch" on the front of the engine actually has 3 positions. All the way in, halfway out, and all the way out. All the way in actually completely disables the choke. It won't even let your electric choke work. I was putting it in this position and for 2 seasons and therefore thought my electric choke was broken. After learning this I starting putting it in the middle position and now my electric choke works. Plus, the first time I started it this way I noticed that the motor seems to choke itself a little bit when it's first started which helps keep it running. Ever since I figured this out it has been SO MUCH EASIER to get the old beast started at the beginning of the day. It idles better too. This may not have anything to do with your problem but it sure was mine!