1962 40 hp no spark top cyl.

[Woodstock60]

Motor 35531 M 1962 40 hp. Running fine the other day and started to loose power, but would still run, I could hear one cyl. cutting out, so I limped in on one. First popped off fly wheel and checked points, not that, put on plug tester lights and saw top cyl cutting out intermittingly, so I changed the coil, the old coil appeared to be hitting the fly wheel in the front and back. No good , Tried different ignition plate, new coils, new plug wires, new cut out switch wires, new points/condensors. Different flywheel, I tried adjusting coils in every possible position. now I get no spark at all on my top cyl. Im pulling my hair out of my head. I don't know what else to try. If anyone has any thoughts on my prob. I would appreciate it. Thanks Ronnie

 

[Daviet]

Re: 1962 40 hp no spark top cyl.

Sounds like you have replaced the complete ignition system, maybe something is defective.
How do you know the points are good, did you check them with an ohm meter?
Did you check the plug wire with an ohm meter?

 

[Woodstock60]

Re: 1962 40 hp no spark top cyl.

replaced with new. That being said it wouldn't be the first time I bought defective. What I will do tomorrow is to switch the coils and points and cond. to the other cyl. and test. Its just the more new parts I put on this thing the worse the problem gets. Does anyone have a problem with the flywheel hitting the coil? That's all I keep coming back to. Ronnie

 

[Woodstock60]

Re: 1962 40 hp no spark top cyl.

O)k I finally figured it out, rookie mistake, it was a combination of a crap coil, and dirty points. I rushed through the point replacement and never inspected. What bugs me is I know better. Daviet, it sounds like you know your way around the ignition system, so I have two questions for you. 1. How do you check points with the ohm meter and 2. What are acceptable readings for the coils? I read they should be around 6, but most of the coils I have lying around are 3.1 - 4.3, only one coil was 5.9 thanks

 

[Daviet]

Re: 1962 40 hp no spark top cyl.

1. If you install the points and leave all the wires off, connect one ohm meter lead to ground and the other lead to the points where the wires hook and turn the engine over, you should see the ohm meter needle move from one extream to the other meaning the points are making a ground when closed. F_R makes a tool that you can use to set the points with an ohm meter, works great.
2. I have a coil tester, so I don't test the coils with an ohm meter, sorry I can't help you there.

 

[Woodstock60]

Re: 1962 40 hp no spark top cyl.

Well it wasn't the points because it ran solid for about an hour and when I really needed it to run good it started to cut out on one cyl. again---WTF. Im wondering if it could be the flywheel, I did sheer off a key way and remember seeing one that appeared to be a little out of whack. Would the smallest bit of a twist in the flywheel be enough to do that? Has anyone seen this before?

 

[Daviet]

Re: 1962 40 hp no spark top cyl.

When you had the flywheel off did you torque it to the proper spec when you put it back on?
It you didn't, you might want to recheck the flywheel key.

 

[nwcove]

Re: 1962 40 hp no spark top cyl.

that still doesnt rule out the points as the culprit. id pull a strip of a business card , dipped in acetone through both sets, and inspect closely for signs of oil residue. also fuel delivery issues can mimick ignition issues. jmo

 

[Woodstock60]

Re: 1962 40 hp no spark top cyl.

Thanks, I pulled off flywheel again and a coil screw shook loose, although it made a mess it doesn't appear to have done any real damage, Ill know better tomorrow,