Weak spark on Johnson 6hp -71

[Johson6hp]

Hi,
I am trying to wake up my grandfathers old Johnson 6hp outboard motor from 1971. I have replaced the coils, since the old ones had cracks in them, and also replaced the ignition cables and sparkplugs. I still have an issue with weak sparks, in daylight you can hardly see them but if it's dark they are visible but they dont seem to be strong enough for the motor to start. Points seems ok, 0.01 ohms when closed. What could be the reason for weak sparks? Can the capacitators be a source to this? Also, resistance in the new coils are 1,5 ohms and 8,7 kilo ohms, does that sound right?
Thanks!

 

[Crosbyman]

yes caps go bad and mess up the ignition ...do them anyway if their age is unknown.. testing with a VOM is not conclusive anyway...they need to be load tested at 250 + volts for leakage.

https://wrcoutboards.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Part1_Condenser_Construction_Failure_Modes.pdf

points must be cleaned with carb cleaner or a simple businesscard soaked it carb cleaner

set points at .020 on the highest side of the cam lobe.

some complaints have been voiced on cheap ZHONGFAZT (??) coils not firing properly

8.7KOHMS is pretty high but....I have used those coils with success .

do easy stuff first ..change the caps ..clean the points set at .020 put a drop of 90 grade oil on the oiler wick.

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see excellent articles by M.Mohat on this site see art#1-4 on caps

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[Johson6hp]

Thanks for the reply!

I have ordered new capacitors and will provide an update once they have been installed and tested.

 

[racerone]

It has wire core sparkplug wires and not automotive ??

 

[Johson6hp]

It has wire core sparkplug wires and not automotive ??

Yes, the ones I have fitted now has a copper wire core.