Hi
My name is Brian from Syracuse, New York. I've been a member for quite a while and read the forums regularly. I appreciate all the information and I?m sorry I?ve never had anything to contribute.
I have a question I hope someone can help me with.
I know this is a long post, but I want to supply as much information as I can to help with a diagnosis.
First, some background. I have a 1968 Evinrude 65hp Sport Four. I've had it for 13 years now. About 10 years ago I completely rebuilt it and replaced/repaired everything but the pistons and crank. As an idea of how comprehensive this was, in the ignition system for example, everything was replaced, including a new wiring loom (everything meaning cdi unit, coil, plug wires, distributor cap, rotor, points and even the connecting wires for the points).
This year I did mostly a tuneup. New plugs, wires, points (ouch, they aren't cheap anymore), a carb kit and took the lower unit out and replaced the impeller.
While I had the distributor cap off, I completely disassembled the distributor base assembly (points base plate) and cleaned and lubricated it. It rotates smoothly with no tight spots and the nylon bushing is in perfect shape. I did notice that if the stator screws were tightened to torque (48-60 inch pounds), the base plate would still move smoothly, but was somewhat difficult to move. This was almost as if the distributor cap (which is underneath the stator) was pressing on the base plate as the stator was being tightened. I wondered about this, but everything was assembled correctly. So what I did was to tighten the screws much looser than I normally would. They are snug, but not tight and the base plate moves freely, just like when the distributor cap is off. I didn't feel good about this, especially since I could assemble this with my eyes closed and this has never been a problem.
Fast forward to - out on the water. The engine was up to operating temperature and had been running for 20 minutes or so. I slowed the boat to an idle and went to put it in neutral, but the shift lever wouldn't move, even though the throttle was at its slowest position.
The only thing that would do this is the interlock and sure enough, when I opened the cover, the shift interlock lever was engaged, which it shouldn?t be at low throttle.
The points base plate was stuck in the wide open throttle position, even though the throttle was at idle.
I moved the spark advance arm that connects the base plate to the throttle linkage and what rotated freely a few hours earlier, now needed my (weak) biceps to make it turn. I had to use a lot of force to make it rotate. Much more force than the spring is able to exert to make it return to the start position.
It seems this is somehow related to the stator screws also making the base plate difficult to rotate (but no where near as difficult as when the engine was hot).
So finally my question: why would the base plate be so difficult to rotate when the engine is hot? There is nothing obviously pressing on it.
Thanks for reading this and I really appreciate any help.
Brian
My name is Brian from Syracuse, New York. I've been a member for quite a while and read the forums regularly. I appreciate all the information and I?m sorry I?ve never had anything to contribute.
I have a question I hope someone can help me with.
I know this is a long post, but I want to supply as much information as I can to help with a diagnosis.
First, some background. I have a 1968 Evinrude 65hp Sport Four. I've had it for 13 years now. About 10 years ago I completely rebuilt it and replaced/repaired everything but the pistons and crank. As an idea of how comprehensive this was, in the ignition system for example, everything was replaced, including a new wiring loom (everything meaning cdi unit, coil, plug wires, distributor cap, rotor, points and even the connecting wires for the points).
This year I did mostly a tuneup. New plugs, wires, points (ouch, they aren't cheap anymore), a carb kit and took the lower unit out and replaced the impeller.
While I had the distributor cap off, I completely disassembled the distributor base assembly (points base plate) and cleaned and lubricated it. It rotates smoothly with no tight spots and the nylon bushing is in perfect shape. I did notice that if the stator screws were tightened to torque (48-60 inch pounds), the base plate would still move smoothly, but was somewhat difficult to move. This was almost as if the distributor cap (which is underneath the stator) was pressing on the base plate as the stator was being tightened. I wondered about this, but everything was assembled correctly. So what I did was to tighten the screws much looser than I normally would. They are snug, but not tight and the base plate moves freely, just like when the distributor cap is off. I didn't feel good about this, especially since I could assemble this with my eyes closed and this has never been a problem.
Fast forward to - out on the water. The engine was up to operating temperature and had been running for 20 minutes or so. I slowed the boat to an idle and went to put it in neutral, but the shift lever wouldn't move, even though the throttle was at its slowest position.
The only thing that would do this is the interlock and sure enough, when I opened the cover, the shift interlock lever was engaged, which it shouldn?t be at low throttle.
The points base plate was stuck in the wide open throttle position, even though the throttle was at idle.
I moved the spark advance arm that connects the base plate to the throttle linkage and what rotated freely a few hours earlier, now needed my (weak) biceps to make it turn. I had to use a lot of force to make it rotate. Much more force than the spring is able to exert to make it return to the start position.
It seems this is somehow related to the stator screws also making the base plate difficult to rotate (but no where near as difficult as when the engine was hot).
So finally my question: why would the base plate be so difficult to rotate when the engine is hot? There is nothing obviously pressing on it.
Thanks for reading this and I really appreciate any help.
Brian
