1990 tracker evinrude 40 no spark

[patrickj]

Ok pulled the carbs both apart, they were extremely clean as I expected being rebuilt 2 months ago, went ahead and cleaned all passages, jets, everything, put back together, set idle at 1 and 1 half turn out, it was way way way better for about 10 minutes, then starred running normally then like it would miss a couple times then recover, found a few cracked fuel lines replaced all of those inside the motor... still just runs great for 20 seconds then misses a couple times and catches idle again for 20 seconds... checked compression it's great on both cylinders... guide me!

 

[patrickj]

Also put on today brand new primer bulb and Line new fittings on both end and I'm using a brand new gas tank with fresh gas and fresh oil

 

[oldboat1]

well, points for persistence:

Return to needle adjustments (from initial settings, adj. each 1/8 turn leaner -- clockwise -- until you get some popping/lean sneezing or stalling, then back them out 1/4 turn.) Don't run on muffs while trying to adjust (motor runs lean) -- need back pressure. Use a trashcan or something similar, and dunk the l.u. about half way. Mix is 50:1.

When the motor acts up, squeeze the primer bulb. If you get improvement, suspect fuel pump issue.

Check and tighten hose line clamps.

Try misting a little carb spray around the base of the powerhead, and see if you get a change in rpms (shield carb intakes with a newspaper or similar).

Recheck spark, using an open air tester -- should measure around 1/2 inch, and bright/sharp. Grab a pair of work gloves and pull off plug boots one at a time and see what happens. If no perceptible change, chances are that plug isn't firing.

Check compression with a screw-in tester, and get some numbers (plugs out, crank until needle stops moving then move to the other cylinder.)

[edit. steps not necessarily in that order....]

 

[patrickj]

Ok most of that I've done, it's in a 55 gallon barrel, mix is 50:1, set idle screws 1 and half out it runs best at 2 and a half out, tested spark with both kinds of tester open air will jump a nice strong blue spark up to about 9/16, when its running bad if i pull top plug no chanhe, bottom plug instantly kills the motor, when iy in its missing stage its still sparking nicely

 

[oldboat1]

Fair to suspect top cylinder is dropping out at some point. Might try a timing gun -- clamp onto top wire, and see if the flashing stops at some point in testing. Compression should be even at, say, 130 or so.

 

[patrickj]

Fair to suspect top cylinder is dropping out at some point. Might try a timing gun -- clamp onto top wire, and see if the flashing stops at some point in testing. Compression should be even at, say, 130 or so.

Ok I will check that this after noon, I have 127 on top and 126 on bottom when cold and 129 on both when warm

 

[oldboat1]

also wouldn't hurt to do simple continuity checks on both plug wires -- spring clip sometimes needs to be reinstalled at a coil or a plug. Simple stuff.

good compression numbers.

 

[patrickj]

It's got brand new plug wires they check out good, never looking spark, I'm 1000% convinced it's a fuel problem, if I sit and push the key in when it starts to stall it catches idle if I sit and do that for 10 minutes it runs perfectly

 

[oldboat1]

fuel pump?

 

[patrickj]

I dropped it off with my mechanic, I'm tired of messing with it, he looked at it briefly while I was there said he thinks it's in the carbs

 

[patrickj]

Can someone answer this for me right quick, mechanic called said it's running better he is trying to time it and he said the timing marks are way off like a few inches. Said he can't even get it close to the marks, years ago the flywheel got broke using the wrong puller to get it off, so a local place replaced it at their cost since they broke it... what are we missing

 

[jakedaawg]

Bad/broken flywheel key or shifted/broken/missing magnets. Also, mechanic doesn't know how to use an advancing time ing light/bad timing light.

 

[patrickj]

That's what he originally thought maybe his timing light was on the fritz, called a few minutes ago and said he pulled the fly wheel and moved the timer base 1 notch whatever that means, and it solved the timing issue.

 

[patrickj]

Does anyone have a digital service manual they can send me? It's a 1990 40 horse te40elesr

 

[oldboat1]

Try here: http://www.boatinfo.no/lib/library.html#