power pack or stator ?

w@rboat

Cadet
Joined
Jun 25, 2003
Messages
8
WHAT'S GOING ON?<br /><br />I HAVE AN 85HP JOHNSON 1975MODEL. IT IS FIRING ON THREE AND ABOUT A HALF CYLINDERS(KINDA ODD). I USED A SPARK TESTER TO SEE JUST HOW MUCH SPARK I WAS GETTING FROM THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER AND IT WAS A REAL WEAK SPARK ABOUT EVERY 5 SECS. I HAVE CHECKED MY COILS WITH OHM METER AND THEY WERE STILL GOOD. I REPLACED ALL 4 SPARK PLUGS. I ALSO DID A RESISTANCE TEST ON MY CHARGE AND SENSOR COILS AND THEY WERE GOOD. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO AN OUTPUT TEST ON THE POWER PACK BECAUSE MY MANUAL SAID I NEEDED A NEON TESTER?( where do you get a neon tester? i think that is an outdated method).<br /><br />MY QUESTION TO YOU GUYS IS, DO YOU THINK I AM EXPERIENCING A WEAK POWER PACK OR IS THE WEAK SPARK COMMING FROM MY STATOR AND TIMER BASE?<br /><br /> Thanks for any suggestions
 

tntwalker

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
May 27, 2003
Messages
36
Re: power pack or stator ?

I am having very similar symptoms with my 1989 Rude 150... Intermittent weak spark to Cylinders 1 and 3, but good strong spark to the other 4 cylinders. I've already replaced the stator, which was 14 years old, but can't say that it made any difference. I have a new powerpack sitting on the counter at the house waiting to be put on tonight. If this remedies my situation, I'll let you know. It could very well be the step you need to take. My coils tested fine and plugs were fine too.<br /><br />A new powerpack for your engine costs $90 from Seiler Marine.
 

downjigger

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Mar 5, 2001
Messages
41
Re: power pack or stator ?

Hi-<br /><br /> Sounds to me like a power pack although it should be working or not (weak isn't one of the choices) If you tested charge and sensor coils than timer base is okay, you can also test stator ( instructions in repair manual) to see if that's okay. If you want to try something switch power packs and see what happens. I did that on V-6 to eliminate problem. I don't know the 85 hp but I assume it's 4 cyl with two power packs. Also, if you have a bad power pack replace both. Good Luck
 

w@rboat

Cadet
Joined
Jun 25, 2003
Messages
8
Re: power pack or stator ?

THANKS GUYS FOR THE INFO.<br /><br /> UNFORTUNATELY MY 85HP ONLY HAS ONE POWER PACK AND A TERMINAL BOARD. SO I CAN'T SWITCH THEM. TNTWALKER IF THAT PACK WORKS OUT FOR YOU IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU COULD POST ME A REPLY. <br /><br />CATCH UP WITH U LATER
 

w@rboat

Cadet
Joined
Jun 25, 2003
Messages
8
Re: power pack or stator ?

T TNTWALKER , HOW DID THAT PACK DO? IS IT WORTH TRYING OUT IN MY SITUATION? ANYONE ELSE WITH SUGGESTIONS ??
 

KrisC

Cadet
Joined
Mar 18, 2003
Messages
22
Re: power pack or stator ?

W@rboat, I too have a 75 model 85 hp Johnson, and I am having the exact same problem except mine is on all 4 cylinders. It is a very weak spark if any at all. Can you please tell me how to do the checks that you have done to this point so that I can try them on my motor. Also please let me know how you fix yours. <br /><br />With yours I would not think that it is the power pack, because it is my understanding that the power pack on our particular motors kills spark on all four plugs when it goes bad. Thanks ahead of time for any help from you or anyone else.
 

w@rboat

Cadet
Joined
Jun 25, 2003
Messages
8
Re: power pack or stator ?

KRISC, MY FIRST ADVICE IS FOR YOU TO CHECK INTO GETTING A MANUAL. I HAVE A CLYMER EVENRUDE/JOHNSON OUTBOARD SHOP MANUAL. YOU CAN GET THESE MANUALS FROM WWW.OUTBOARDREPAIRS.COM. I AM NOT SURE OF THE COST, MINE CAME WITH THE BOAT. <br /><br />AS FOR SOME TEST YOU COULD DO IS, FROM THE DECRIPTION OF YOUR PROBLEM I WOULD START BY CHECKING YOUR IGNITION COILS AND WORK YOUR WAY BACKWARDS TO YOUR CHARGE COILS. IF YOU HAVE AN OHM METER YOU CAN CHECK THE CONTINUITY OF YOUR ING. COILS(coils connected to your spark plugs.) THIS WILL ALLOW YOU TO SEE IF YOUR PRIMARY INPUT OF YOUR COIL HAS GOOD CONNECTION TO YOUR SPARK PLUG BOOT.<br /> YOU CAN ALSO RUN A RESISTANCE TEST ON YOUR SENSOR AND CHARGE COILS. IN ORDER TO DO THIS YOU WILL NEED THE OHM METER. WHAT YOU DO IS <br />1) disconnect the sensor leads 2,4,9,12 from your power pack. connect the ohm meter leads to the wire terminals of 2 and 4, then note your readings.<br />2) do the same for terminals 9 and 12.<br />3)your test should read between 6.5 and10.5 ohms.<br /><br />CHARGE COIL TEST<br /><br />1) disconnect the terminals 7 and 8 from the power pack<br />2)set ohm meter on high scale and connect the leads from the wire terminals 7 and 8 as you did in the previous test.<br />3) the reading should be between 555 and 705 ohms<br /> <br /> ONCE YOU HAVE DONE THESE TEST YOU CAN TEST THE OUTPUTS ON YOUR POWER PACK, CHARGE COILS, AND SENSOR COILS. IN ORDER TO DO THESE TEST YOU WILL NEED A VOLTMETER AND THE INFORMATION ON THE MINIMUM AMOUT OF VOLTS THAT SHOULD BE COMING OUT OF EACH OF THESE INGNITION PART. I CAN'T GIVE YOU THAT INFO BECAUSE I AM HOPING SOMEONE CAN TELL ME. MY MANUAL DOES NOT GIVE THOSE LISTINGS.<br /><br /> I HOPE THIS INFO CAN HELP YOU, IF YOU HAVE SOME QUESTIONS POST BACK.<br /><br />LATER
 

tntwalker

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
May 27, 2003
Messages
36
Re: power pack or stator ?

I installed the new powerpack... 20 minutes... easy job... I now have a solid spark to all cylinders. My ignition problems appear to be solved... <br /><br />however in my situation, I still have a rough idle... which leads me down the old "rebuild the carbs" road... which I really didn't want to go down.<br /><br />If you are certain you have an ignition problem, replace the pack. $90 for the part isn't that bad. If it doesn't solve your problem, you have a spare powerpack.. which is a good idea to have anyways.<br /><br />Let us know how things progress as not enough people report back after things are solved.
 

ledgefinder

Ensign
Joined
May 2, 2002
Messages
916
Re: power pack or stator ?

Warboat - did you try swapping another coil onto cylinder #3? Also check the ground on that coil & it's plug wire.
 

93bronco

Ensign
Joined
Nov 11, 2001
Messages
962
Re: power pack or stator ?

mite be too late but try this site shad connection<br />-<br />you will thank yourself if you get an original omc service manual with parts book.
 
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