1969 85hp v4 evinrude spark problem

glastron165

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Oct 14, 2012
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my 69 evinrude has an intermittent spark problem will run after the system is excited but leave it for a day and have to repeat the process have new points for it but wouldnt know were to start as i was told by the local marine mechanic they need to be replaced precicley and he doesnt want to do it can anyone help me please
 

rockyrude

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Re: 1969 85hp v4 evinrude spark problem

If you haven't already done it get the OEM manual for the motor. It's pretty straight forward to replace the points. My '69 115hp has the sensor but I had a problem with the two wires that go from the power pack along the timing arm and under the flywheel. There is an anchor clip just before it goes under the flywheel, the insulation had cracked from all the years of movement and shorted the power pack signal. The result was loss of spark.
 

boobie

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Re: 1969 85hp v4 evinrude spark problem

What do you mean by " excited " ??
 

glastron165

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Re: 1969 85hp v4 evinrude spark problem

What do you mean by " excited " ??

thats what the mechanic said to me what he did to get it going the first time i think he just earthed it out so thats what i did and it works nearly every time but i dont want to keep doing it. it cant be good for it
 

glastron165

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Re: 1969 85hp v4 evinrude spark problem

If you haven't already done it get the OEM manual for the motor. It's pretty straight forward to replace the points. My '69 115hp has the sensor but I had a problem with the two wires that go from the power pack along the timing arm and under the flywheel. There is an anchor clip just before it goes under the flywheel, the insulation had cracked from all the years of movement and shorted the power pack signal. The result was loss of spark.

thanks for the reply i will check my wires again i had a new amplifier put on five years ago and has been running sweet without any problems i havnt used the boat in three years just been sitting in the shed so i sold it and went to start it and will only start if i put a jumper cable on the battery and earth out the engine then i get spark at the plugs and it will run seems to me theres a problem before the points any thoughts?
 

rockyrude

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Re: 1969 85hp v4 evinrude spark problem

The wires I'm talking about are between the power pack and the points. It sounds like you are bypassing the entire harness to get it to start. Is this mounted on a boat or freestanding? If on a boat, look for a kill switch.
 

rico suave

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Jul 18, 2008
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Re: 1969 85hp v4 evinrude spark problem

The wires I'm talking about are between the power pack and the points. It sounds like you are bypassing the entire harness to get it to start. Is this mounted on a boat or freestanding? If on a boat, look for a kill switch.


I just went thru all this stuff with my 1971 Johnson 85hp. I would agree, first thing you need is a manual. Second thing is remove the flywheel for inspection and access to the points, if you haven't done that already. I know on mine some of the wires were chaffed where they attached at the points and grounding out. The problem you describe could be one of many things, but that's where I would start. It would seem though that if the amplifier was replaced recently that that should have been checked at the same time?
 

glastron165

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Re: 1969 85hp v4 evinrude spark problem

it doesnt have a kill switch ive owned the boat for 15 years and never had this happen yp marine mechanic thought is was the trigger then remembered this motor had points so got me a set and told me to change them. all i did when i earthed it is connect the pos on battery then touch it on the engine wiring remove it straight away then try to start the engine and most times it goes i checked the two wires that go to the points and cant see any breaks or bad connections on them.
 
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