2001 Honda outboard no start

[Hardley Davidson]

It all started with an occasional studder, it would hesitate at any rpm, die out and recover without re-start, changed plugs , fuel and fuel filter, still did it ! some days never , other days several times heading up lake, now no start, no spark, tried new CDI , still no spark, turns out NO Honda repair shop within 5 hr drive from my house ! New member here , hoping someone can help me out with suggestions, thanks 2001 Honda BF90

 

[hondam]

Ign problems on Hondas are extremely rare. 99% of the time when i get one in my shop claiming no spark, i hook my spark tester with the metric adapters to it and it sparks. Holding a spark plug up against the block is not a reliable way to test spark, it works most of the time in a pinch but can often give false indications and standard spark testers will not plug into those spark plug boots. Hook everything back up, squirt some starting fluid in the front of the carbs and see it it will hit.

If it is one of those very rare occations there is an ign problem, the most common problem is with the ign switch. Unhook the wiring harness from the motor and cross over the starter solenoid and see if you have your spark back. Be prepared to choke out the motor if it decides it wants to start on you.