1984 115 HP Ignition Problem

[stephennicholls531]

I?ve ? finally ? managed to put a 1984 115 HP V4 Evinrude basket case rebuild project back together, and was starting to check out the ignition system, and have run into a hiccup. I?m using a spark plug air gap tool - with the air gap set at 1/2" - to verify that there was good spark from each coil, and the first time I cranked it over, I got beautiful sparks at all four gaps. Then, all of a sudden, I find that I?m only getting sparks from the number 1 and number 4 coils. If it had been the #1 and #3 coils that had stopped working, or the #2 and #4 coils, I would have pretty easily figured out that the associated power pack would probably be defective. But to get only one spark on each side is just a little more complicated.

Has anyone run into this type of problem before? And if you have, if you could offer any advice on what has to be done to rectify this glitch, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Reggie08]

Re: 1984 115 HP Ignition Problem

Re-check to make sure your plug wires are snug on the coils and plugs (stupid thing to say I know but sometimes the simple things get ya). I just rebuilt an 85 'Rude 90hp and briefly ran into the same problem. Luckily it was just a matter of not having good contact with my plug wires (which I ulitimately replaced anyway). If still no spark on the #2 and 3 cylinders, swap the coils around to see if the no-spark issue follows. For example, take the #3 coil and swap it with the #1 then do the same with the #2 and #4. If it follows, most likely the coils are bad.

 

[CharlieB]

Re: 1984 115 HP Ignition Problem

If the problem does NOT follow the coils then you need to borrow a DVA Meter and test the trigger outputs to the modules, the same trigger fires both cylinders.

DO NOT ORDER a new trigger until you have tested and proven the trigger to be the fault, there is NO RETURN on electrical parts, you want to BE SURE BEFORE you order.

 

[stephennicholls531]

Re: 1984 115 HP Ignition Problem

Greetings -

Well, someone should slap me - I finally was able to get this one sorted out. The first thing that the troubleshooting guides tell you to do is to make sure that the battery is fully charged. Guess what - they are right!!! I was spinning the motor over without spark plugs in it, and checking for spark with an air-gap tool. With no plugs in, it spins over very nicely - no load - but when the battery runs low, there's apparently not enough juice to fully charge the powerpack capacitors, and you only get one spark from each powerpack instead of two. Doh! Fully charged up, I got all of the nice blue sparks that I need. Thanks again for your responses.

Cheers -

Steve