No spark

[nitsuj]

1970 Johnson 115. In turning it over, I discovered it has no spark to any of the cylinders. It had spark when it was stored 5 years ago. The manual has a trouble shooting section for every other problem under the sun, but not for a no spark condition. Is there a real simple common problem I should look for before I really tear into it?

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: No spark

How did you go about checking for your no spark condition?

 

[nitsuj]

Re: No spark

I hooked a plug up to a wire and held the plug to ground and watched for spark jumping the gap. ( I did it on all 4 cylinders) Also, by process of elimination. I have gas, I have air, and I have compression, if I had spark, the motor would be running.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: No spark

Nitsuj... The following may be of interest to you. If you find you need a new powerpack, I have one left in my remaining stock. ReevesJ32@aol.com<br /><br />(Battery Capacitance Dischage Powerpack Test)<br />Various OMC Engines - 1968 to 1972)<br /><br />Purchase a small 12v bulb at your local automotive parts store (the 12v bulb is to look like a flashlight bulb, not a headlight bulb). Solder two wires to that bulb, one to the side of the bulb (ground), and the other to the positive point. <br /><br />Remove the spark plugs. With the key in the on position, make sure that you have 12v going to the pack at the terminal block (purple wire). Now, connect the ground wire from the bulb to any powerhead ground. Connect the wire from the positive point of that bulb to the powerpack wire that is connected to the coil wire on the terminal board (blue wire). <br /><br />Crank the engine and observe that bulb closely (CLOSELY!). If that bulb glows even the slightest bit, the powerpack is okay. It may be a very dim glow... just so it glows! If it doesn't glow, the pack has failed. <br /><br />Keep in mind, that type powerpack (Battery Capacitance Discharge) demands a top notch battery of at least 70 amp hours. Any less will, in time, cause powerpack failure.

 

[nitsuj]

Re: No spark

Ok, I'll try it. Is there any reason I couldn't use a regular 12v test light? Or is the buld from a parts store more sensitive? I'll try it tomorrow and let you know how it goes. Thanks Joe.

 

[nitsuj]

Re: No spark

Ok Joe, I performed the test as best I could. Some of these wires are pretty old though, and telling color is tough! <br /> The wire from the power pack that looks like it may have been purple at one time, it comes out of the pack and goes into a big rubber plug, then to the terminal block. I have juice there. <br /> Next, theres the wire that looks blue, it goes from the terminal block to the coil. No juice when cranking. Not even a little glow. Nothing. <br /> So, does this mean the power pack is toast for sure? It was replaced maybe 10 years ago and has maybe 5 seasons on it. Do they go bad often? And finally, how much is the one you have? If you'd rather not post your price here, you can e-mail it to me at hondatech@lapdragon.org Thanks again Joe.