I almost hate to ask this question....

[0rion]

You know the saying "the only dumb question is one that isn't asked"? Well, this question is probably pushing that rule.

I have my brothers 95 sea nymph with a E50TLEOD evinrude on it. Took it out a couple weeks ago and it ran fine. Went to start it last week and there's no spark to either plug.
Little back history. My brother had what he thought was a fuel sender problem a couple years ago so he cut the line and started using a portable tank on it. The old gas was just left in there. He gave me the boat last year so last week ( after I had the boat out once already) I decided to tackle the tank problem. I had already figured out last year his only problem was a sticking gauge.duh!!
So last week I pumped all the old fuel out of the boat and was going to pull and flush the tank but decided to just leave it like it is and take it out a few more times. Go to start it and it won't start and has no spark.
My possibly stupid question is if the fuel pump doesn't prime or doesn't see any pressure can it kill spark?
I'm just trying to back track as to what's happened between the last time it ran fine and now when it has no spark and that's really all that's changed. The in board tank is now empty.
What's the odds the coil or power pack went bad sitting in the back yard from one week to the next? I've already ordered a coil for it since it was only $40 although I hate throwing parts at something and know that's not the right way to do it but it was a cheap guess. The powerpack is considerably more expensive so before throwing anymore parts at it I'll have to learn how to diagnose that. Thanks for your guys time and sorry for the dumb question.

 

[jjacobs007]

Re: I almost hate to ask this question....

buy a 12 pack your choice,then buy your gas at a boating gas station.then drink up wait 4 spark.might work.gas and spark are not friends at all.

 

[0rion]

Re: I almost hate to ask this question....

buy a 12 pack your choice,then buy your gas at a boating gas station.then drink up wait 4 spark.might work.gas and spark are not friends at all.

hmmmm, I've read that a couple of times and still can't make sense out of it.
What I was asking basically is if there's a pressure switch or something on the fuel pump that can can kill the ignition? I really don't think there is and don't know why there would be. The empty in board tank is the only thing that's changed since the last time I ran in.

 

[jjacobs007]

Re: I almost hate to ask this question....

ok i was being silly,sometimes boats are not silly.spark and gas only relate in the combustion chamber.

 

[5150abf]

Re: I almost hate to ask this question....

No, they aren't that complicated, it should spark all the time gas or not.

Check your kill switch, that is a common culprit in these situations and the most over looked, pull it and work it in and out a couple times to be sure it is clean.

The best way to not throw parts at a motor is to get a manual, OMC, not Clymers, Seloc or any CD, it will tell you exactly how to trouble shoot this.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: I almost hate to ask this question....

unplug the BIG RED plug, then jump the solenoid, and see it you have spark. if you do, the problem is in the harness, or the control, probably ignition, or kill lanyard.

 

[0rion]

Re: I almost hate to ask this question....

No, they aren't that complicated, it should spark all the time gas or not.

Check your kill switch, that is a common culprit in these situations and the most over looked, pull it and work it in and out a couple times to be sure it is clean.

The best way to not throw parts at a motor is to get a manual, OMC, not Clymers, Seloc or any CD, it will tell you exactly how to trouble shoot this.

I really didn't think there was...just chasing my tail a little. I have cleaned the kill switch and worked it in and out. Still didn't get spark. I do have 12 volts going into the coil but haven't had a helper out there than can crank it so I can see what's coming out of the coil. A manual is definitely at the top of my "to get" list. The fact I have power a the coil would make me think it's probably the coil or the powerpack....would that be a pretty good assumption?

 

[jonesg]

Re: I almost hate to ask this question....

You don't need a helper, thats the purpose of using a jumper on the starter.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: I almost hate to ask this question....

Orion, Most OB Ignition systems work off the alternator, not the battery. Their powerpacks are grounded to kill the spark. Follow the suggestion to disconnect the big red plug and crank the motor by jumpering the solenoid, and see if spark returns. If it does the motor is fine, and the wiring in the boat is bad. if no spark, something in the engine's ign system is bad.

 

[0rion]

Re: I almost hate to ask this question....

ahhhh, ok. Thanks guys. I'll go out and try that this afternoon if the rain lets up and see where I'm at.

 

[0rion]

Re: I almost hate to ask this question....

I jumped the solenoid and still no spark. What should I look at next?

 

[KLINDWW]

Re: I almost hate to ask this question....

I hate to jump in, but did you unplug the big red plug when you jumped the solenoid on the starter. That is the key to this test. You might have done this I just wanted to make sure.

 

[0rion]

Re: I almost hate to ask this question....

I hate to jump in, but did you unplug the big red plug when you jumped the solenoid on the starter. That is the key to this test. You might have done this I just wanted to make sure.

yep, I unplugged it and jumped that solenoid. There's wasn't even a faint spark. Nothing. Can I hook a volt meter up to the output wires on the coil and read voltage out of that? I have a digital meter and for some reason I think I read that a digital meter won't work...that I need an analog meter??

 

[Chris1956]

Re: I almost hate to ask this question....

First thing is to purchase a service manual for that motor. I would recommend an OMC one. They are available in several places. One of these sources is Marineengine.com Have the model number handy.

Basically the flywheel spins and coils under the flywheel cut the magnetic lines of force inducing a voltage in the coils. This voltage is collected in the powerpack, and used to pulse the ignition coils upon the signal from the trigger (also under the flywheel). The service manual should have ohm tests for the ign coils and stator windings. It may have tests for the trigger and powerpack.

 

[0rion]

Re: I almost hate to ask this question....

that's my next step. Has anyone tried the seloc online manuals? Can you print from those? I've used alldata for auto's in the past before and they're pretty comprehensive and you can print from them so you basically just go print out the wiring diagrams and things of importance and get a manual for half price.

 

[5150abf]

Re: I almost hate to ask this question....

Those are the worst, get an OMC factory manual, Selocs ect cover a huge range of motors so you get alot of "similar to" where a factory OMC covers your engine only, if it is in the manual it is your particular motor, thay are a little pricey but worth it.

If money is tight look on Ebay, they usually have them for a good price.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: I almost hate to ask this question....

that's my next step. Has anyone tried the seloc online manuals? Can you print from those? I've used alldata for auto's in the past before and they're pretty comprehensive and you can print from them so you basically just go print out the wiring diagrams and things of importance and get a manual for half price.

Get the OMC manual. You need it !!!
Seloc Suck and before you ask so do clymer

 

[0rion]

Re: I almost hate to ask this question....

Those are the worst, get an OMC factory manual, Selocs ect cover a huge range of motors so you get alot of "similar to" where a factory OMC covers your engine only, if it is in the manual it is your particular motor, thay are a little pricey but worth it.

If money is tight look on Ebay, they usually have them for a good price.

Get the OMC manual. You need it !!!
Seloc Suck and before you ask so do clymer

thanks guys. I didn't order any seloc stuff. Can one of you double check to make sure this is the correct manual for me? It's a factory manual but it still covers a range of engines instead of just my specific model number (E50TLEOD) but this is the closest I could find. It's part number 503148 at marineengine.com
manual link

If that's not the correct manual I'd really appreciate a link or part number to the correct manual. I won't order anything until I'm sure I'm getting the right manual.

 

[0rion]

Re: I almost hate to ask this question....

while I'm waiting on my manual to get here I've been going over wires to make sure none are damaged. Looked for a bit today and decided to check spark 1 more time. I got 1 spark to jump and that was it. It was a strong blue spark but only did it one time and nothing after that......the search continues. I can't really do much until the manual gets here though.

 

[Tyme2fish]

Re: I almost hate to ask this question....

I don't know a thing about your problem but my question is, "Are you sure your battery and it's connections are good?"