Frustration. I'm not a boat tech and can't afford to hire one 
After having ignition problems, and putting a new CDI stator on my 1988 Force 85hp, I did a test run on muffs, and was glad it fired right up. However, it sounded a bit rough, so I thought i would check timing and link and sync carbs (it's been awhile since on the water).
Grabbed the #1 plug wire and was surprised to see it firing at TDC at cranking speed.
What the heck? After reading the timing posts, watching the video, shouldn't this be firing at 28deg?
Why would this even run?
I checked TDC against the flywheel mark with a screwdriver in #1 and it lines up.
Here are some clues :
1) When I pulled the flywheel, the magnet caught on the old stator and dropped off. I was able to match up the rust and adhesive marks on the magnet and replace it on the flywheel with high temp cement. I feel really confident that I was able to get it back in the same location. But I could be wrong. (odd that it is firing at EXACTLY TDC +/- 1deg). No way did I screw up the placement by 30 degrees.
2) The timing light I have is roughly 6000 years old. I think Moses used it. I don't think this is the problem, but thought I might share.
3) It is possible that in replacing the stator, I miswired. Again, I took my time and was very, very cautious.
As a side note, I was not happy with the quality of the CDI stator I bought. It was heavily covered in varnish, and when I first installed the flywheel back on, the flywheel would not turn. I had to take the stator off and remove the varnish from the ends of the poles with a dremel and a wire brush. I called CDI to complain, and they did not care.
Any ideas?
Thank you!
After having ignition problems, and putting a new CDI stator on my 1988 Force 85hp, I did a test run on muffs, and was glad it fired right up. However, it sounded a bit rough, so I thought i would check timing and link and sync carbs (it's been awhile since on the water).
Grabbed the #1 plug wire and was surprised to see it firing at TDC at cranking speed.
What the heck? After reading the timing posts, watching the video, shouldn't this be firing at 28deg?
Why would this even run?
I checked TDC against the flywheel mark with a screwdriver in #1 and it lines up.
Here are some clues :
1) When I pulled the flywheel, the magnet caught on the old stator and dropped off. I was able to match up the rust and adhesive marks on the magnet and replace it on the flywheel with high temp cement. I feel really confident that I was able to get it back in the same location. But I could be wrong. (odd that it is firing at EXACTLY TDC +/- 1deg). No way did I screw up the placement by 30 degrees.
2) The timing light I have is roughly 6000 years old. I think Moses used it. I don't think this is the problem, but thought I might share.
3) It is possible that in replacing the stator, I miswired. Again, I took my time and was very, very cautious.
As a side note, I was not happy with the quality of the CDI stator I bought. It was heavily covered in varnish, and when I first installed the flywheel back on, the flywheel would not turn. I had to take the stator off and remove the varnish from the ends of the poles with a dremel and a wire brush. I called CDI to complain, and they did not care.
Any ideas?
Thank you!