Suzuki DT 30 has orange spark when it has spark?

[TwoRivers]

Looking for some advise. My motor is a 1987 DT30 twin cylinder single carb. When it starts it runs pretty well. (it's running now) Problem is that it will go through episodes where it won't start and won't spark. I can't trust this motor to get me back to the dock. So when I fish the river I only venture up stream.
I've ohmed the coils and they all fall within spec. I've been over all the wiring and the grounds. The thing I noticed was that when it gets spark the spark is orange not blue. The ignition system on this motor is fairly simple.
The CDI and coils are a combined unit.
There is an ignition coil, lighting coil and ignition sensor under the flywheel.
I'm not sure what the ignition sensor does and my manual doesn't include tests for it.
I'm wondering if one of the components is weak and sometimes failing?
Does the orange spark lend any clues?
Any other areas to investigate?
Any help appreciated.
Rob

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Suzuki DT 30 has orange spark when it has spark?

Outboard ignition . com has test procedures for outboards.
The Suzuki is close to a Yam and maybe the tests will cross over.
Usually weak spark??Could be a bad connection,or a weak stator.
Bad regulator??
How old is the battery?
Clean and redo ALL the connections.

 

[TwoRivers]

Re: Suzuki DT 30 has orange spark when it has spark?

Anybody?
Can these coils, cdi, etc. get weak and work intermittently or produce orange spark?
Is orange spark bad?
Somebody has to know about these old Suzukis?

 

[TwoRivers]

Re: Suzuki DT 30 has orange spark when it has spark?

Thanks Jerry,
Went through all the wiring and the battery is newer and will crank the little 30hp all day.
I'll post some pictures of the existing ignition parts when I get back from kids game.
I've read on some Evinrude/Johnson threads about the spark having to be at least 7/16 long.
Anybody hear that? I don't want to start changing parts.
Thanks again.

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Suzuki DT 30 has orange spark when it has spark?

The Cdi on these motors are bulletproof, it could be a weak coil or corrosion / dirt on your stator, have you had the flywheel off yet?

 

[TwoRivers]

Re: Suzuki DT 30 has orange spark when it has spark?

The Cdi on these motors are bulletproof, it could be a weak coil or corrosion / dirt on your stator, have you had the flywheel off yet?

Good to know about the CDI.
Haven't had the flywheel off yet. Seems like the next logical step.
One thing that puzzles me is that I get proper ohm readings from the coils even when there is no spark?
My manual(s) only suggest the ohm test. Is there another way to test the stator?
If it's corrosion or dirt will it still give a good ohm reading? Just don't want to start throwing parts at it. Done that too many times with poor results.
Anybody know what the Ignition Sensor does?

 

[TwoRivers]

Re: Suzuki DT 30 has orange spark when it has spark?

Lost spark again today. Took the flywheel off and cleaned everything up under there. There was a little grease here and there but nothing too serious. Cleaned the flywheel and the magnets on the coils. Ohmed the coils and they are both within spec. Not sure about the ignition sensor coil, can't seem to get any info regarding a test?
Got everything back together except the starter. Will throw that on tomorrow and try again. Can't help but suspect a bad CDI. My manual says that if everything else checks out to replace the CDI.
Problem is that a new CDI costs as much as the motor is worth if it's running and it's not running! If I knew for sure it would solve the problem I'd go ahead and buy one. BUT, you know how that goes.
I put out an appeal on another thread for a CDI that will work on an 87 DT30. It's the one with the two spark plug wires coming out of the box.
If anybody has one that they will let me try out I'll pay for shipping and a case of your favorite malted beverage?
PM me and let me know. I'd appreciate any help.
thanks
Rob

 

[TwoRivers]

Re: Suzuki DT 30 has orange spark when it has spark?

Well, I got the starter back on and the motor has been firing since then. Still don't trust it though?
Did a compression test and it's got 119 on both cylinders when fully warmed up.
I think I finally got the timing and the link and synch close to being right. I put on a new prop and it starts and runs great at mid to wot. It idles OK but not smooth. I finally got it to run at a good trolling speed (barely) but it seems to be running rich. I'm only 1.5 turns out on the low speed jet and the manual call for 2.5. Maybe another 1/8th?
Anybody ever get one of these things to purr real nice and smooth?
(I'm running a 50:1 mix and the manual calls for 100:1)
Thanks to all.
Rob

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Suzuki DT 30 has orange spark when it has spark?

I found my 30hp trip runs best around 2 turns outwards .... but keep at 50:1 mix .... these carbs can be very temperamental .... if they not 100% clean they give issues at idle ....

 

[TwoRivers]

Re: Suzuki DT 30 has orange spark when it has spark?

I found my 30hp trip runs best around 2 turns outwards .... but keep at 50:1 mix .... these carbs can be very temperamental .... if they not 100% clean they give issues at idle ....

I'm going to take the carb off tomorrow and give it a good cleaning. I'll report back afterward.
Thanks for your response.
Rob

 

[TwoRivers]

Re: Suzuki DT 30 has orange spark when it has spark?

Just an update on the thread. I still didn't take the carb off to clean it. I ran the engine for a few hours from a quart of highly concentrated SeaFoam and 50:1 fuel. Smoked like crazy but still didn't smooth the idle out but it does seem better.
Just to satisfy my curiosity I'm gonna try a partial tank of 100:1 fuel to see if it smooths out the idle? I can't see it hurting anything as the original owner ran 100:1 for 14 yrs.
Ran into another no spark condition so I changed everything out; stator, coils, cdi. Cost me more than the motor is worth but at least it starts now. Still don't know what was wrong?
If I take the carb off, do I have to replace the main gasket?
I have the parts catalog for my engine but I don't see the gasket listed.
Also, no listing for a carb kit?
I see some carb kits (gaskets, main jet) listed on ebay but not sure they'll work. I can't see reusing the float bowl gasket.
Can anybody provide a source for the carb kit?
Thanks
rob

 

[TwoRivers]

Re: Suzuki DT 30 has orange spark when it has spark?

OK, I'm going to close out this thread because it was originally about spark and has now morphed into rough idle. I believe I've solved the spark issue by changing every ignition part in the motor. Still not sure which one was bad but I suspect the cdi.
Thanks to all who responded. I learned a lot about troubleshooting, timing and linkage adjustment.
Please visit my thread on smoothing out rough idle.
rob