Re: 1969 55hp Evinrude Distributor Questions
Assuming that you've rebuilt the carburetors correctly, they may be out of adjustment..........
(Carburetor Adjustment - Single S/S Adjustable Needle Valve)
(J. Reeves)
Initial setting is: Slow speed = seat gently, then open 1-1/2 turns.
Start engine and set the rpms to where it just stays running. In segments of 1/8 turns, start to turn the S/S needle valve in. Wait a few seconds for the engine to respond. As you turn the valve in, the rpms will increase. Lower the rpms again to where the engine will just stay running.
Eventually you'll hit the point where the engine wants to die out or it will spit back (sounds like a mild backfire). At that point, back out the valve 1/4 turn. Within that 1/4 turn, you'll find the smoothest slow speed setting.
Note: As a final double check setting of the slow speed valve(s), if the engine has more than one carburetor, do not attempt to gradually adjust all of the valves/carburetors at the same time. Do one at a time until you hit the above response (die out or spit back), then go on to the next valve/carburetor. It may be necessary to back out "all" of the slow speed adjustable needle valves 1/8 turn before doing this final adjustment due to the fact that one of the valves might be initially set ever so slightly lean.
When you have finished the above adjustment, you will have no reason to move them again unless the carburetor fouls/gums up from sitting, in which case you would be required to remove, clean, and rebuild the carburetor anyway.
And the point setting is quite critical.............
(Point Setting Of Battery Capacitance Discharge
( Ignition Models - 1968 thru 1972)
(Some have points - Some do not)
(Joe Reeves)
The points must be set to .010 but no wider than .010..... BUT in some instances due to a possible slight inaccurately machined crankshaft lobe or a slight offset of one set of points, a setting slightly less than .010 would be required as follows.
Whether the crankshaft has two or three lobes, when setting the points, check the setting of the points on each individual lobe by rotating the crankshaft by hand.
You may find that setting one set of points to .010 on one lobe, then turning the crankshaft to the next lobe, the gap measures .011 or .012 (too wide). This is where you would need to close that gap down to the required .010. A gap too wide can result in a ignition miss when throttle is applied.
Bottom line, pertaining to the point setting at the various lobe locations____ .010, .010, .009, is okay____ .010, .010, .011 is not!
(Carburetor Throttle Cam Roller)
(J. Reeves)
First, if the engine has more than one carburetor, make sure that the linkages between the carburetors are synchronized. That is the linkages are such that all butterflies open and close at the same time. If , at idle, one butterfly is slightly open and the others closed, weird happenings will occur.
The carburetor throttle roller, when contacted by the cam that slides against it, causes the throttle butterflies to open and close. The cam that slides against the roller has a scribe mark on it.
The roller must be adjusted so that the scribe mark on the cam is aligned dead center with the roller when they make contact. This is the point where the throttle butterflies should just start to open....... not before or after.
