1995 5 hp NIssan NS5B no spark

[nakedjimmy]

I just purchased a sailboat with a 95 Nissan NS5B outboard. The motor will not start. My extremely unscientific compression test (Pull on rope, feel resistance, remove spark plug, put thumb over hole, feel pressure) tells me that at least there is some compression and I can see gas in the motor's fuel filter when I squeeze the external tank's bulb. So, two out of three in theory. I do not see a spark. I, again unscientifically, tested it by pulling the spark plug and grounding it against the motor and pulling the rope in my dark garage. I see no spark at all.

I have ordered a manual to help me work through this, but hoping I can get help here before it arrives. I assume that the black rectangle the spark plug wire emerges from is a coil--how do I test it? Anything else I should look at right now?

Thanks.

 

[Sea Rider]

Welcome to Iboats,

Assume kill cord is attached to switch, right ? Are all electrical components grounds immaculate clean and shinny ? Is your plug cap terminal corroded, not shinny ? Is plug in good working order ? Try a new one.

If no spark could be any of 4 possible issues :

-Bad Exciter Coil
-Bad Pulser Coil
-Bad Ignition Coil
-Bad CD Unit

Each one will need to be measured with appropriate ohm meter instrument while pulling cord, will need a service manual to check readings. I would roll the dice and order a new Ignition Coil, but that's me.

Happy Boating

 

[pvanv]

That vintage may have a "push to kill" button, rather than a stop clip and lanyard. Regardless, the brown wire to that switch is the kill wire. If grounded, it is supposed to prevent ignition. If you disconnect that brown, and still no spark, test the pulser, exciter, ignition coil, and also the CD, using your Factory service manual and a good analog ohm meter.