76 Johnson 15 HP

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kryp2nite26

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Could some please tell me which set of points fires which cylinder? I'm troubleshooting, or trying to troubleshoot, an ignition problem with my motor. In following the way the engine was wired when I got it, I think it might be firing 180° out.
 
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racerone

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Answer these.----What is your motor doing / not doing?----Do you have spark that jumps a gap of 5/16" , yes or no ?-----If you suspect 180 degrees out , then test by switching the wires.
 
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kryp2nite26

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Was chasing a low power issue with the motor. Bought the motor used about a month ago and it ran. But it did not run well. So after looking over everything I finally decided to run it in the tank in the dark. I noticed both ignition coils were shorting to the spark plug wires. So I figured it must have had an ignition problem. I removed both spark plug coils, and both had severe cracks on the bottom. Replaced entire ignition system. New points, new coils, new wires, new charge coil, and new condensers. Putting everything back together I am using the multimeter method to set the points. So I just wanted to make sure when setting these new points that I'm testing the right one for the correct cylinder.
 
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racerone

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Visit a site called----leroysramblings-------Lots of useful info on your motor there.
 
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kryp2nite26

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racerone said:
Visit a site called----leroysramblings-------Lots of useful info on your motor there.
Click to expand...
I've been there many times. Just looking for a definitive answer I which point set controls what, but I think I have it figured out now.
 
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Crosbyman

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when one piston is at top dead center ....... one set of points should be open usuall y .020 or begin to open

That cyl. the one associated with your , coil and plug wire and plug wire & point

to find TDC (approx) poke a small screw driver in the sparkplug hole & turn the FW till you feel the piston at the top of it's travel limit just as it begin the drop down


turn the FW 180 same for the other cyl, coil point etc... for the cyl at it's tdc.
 
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racerone

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??----In nautical speak----PORT ---side is always the same whether looking at the front or the back of the boat !!
 
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kryp2nite26

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I'm quoting this from Leeroys Ramblings, this would indicate the starboard set controlling the top piston? : "The RH set of points (looking forward) are for the top (#1) spark plug."
 
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Crosbyman

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I can never remember which is starboard... only left and right looking forward :) and I do not have to many years to learn so for me it stays left and right :)


This is the transcript of a radio conversation of a US naval ship with Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October, 1995. Radio conversation released by the Chief of Naval Operations 10-10-95.
Americans: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a Collision.
Canadians: Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision.
Americans: This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.
Canadians: No. I say again, you divert YOUR course.
Americans: This is the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln, the second largest ship in the United States’ Atlantic fleet. We are accompanied by three destroyers, three cruisers and numerous support vessels. I demand that YOU change your course 15 degrees north, that’s one five degrees north, or countermeasures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship.
Canadians: This is a lighthouse. Your call.
 
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racerone

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In the old " universal magneto " the right hand breaker points were for the top.------Now the different style magneto found on a 1976 model 15 HP may well be opposite of that !!!
 
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saltchuckmatt

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Crosbyman said:
I can never remember which is starboard... only left and right looking forward :) and I do not have to many years to learn so for me it stays left and right :)


This is the transcript of a radio conversation of a US naval ship with Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October, 1995. Radio conversation released by the Chief of Naval Operations 10-10-95.
Americans: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a Collision.
Canadians: Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision.
Americans: This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.
Canadians: No. I say again, you divert YOUR course.
Americans: This is the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln, the second largest ship in the United States’ Atlantic fleet. We are accompanied by three destroyers, three cruisers and numerous support vessels. I demand that YOU change your course 15 degrees north, that’s one five degrees north, or countermeasures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship.
Canadians: This is a lighthouse. Your call.
Click to expand...
Here is how I remember. When in the boat and looking forward the left side is the port side. Both "left" and "port" have 4 letters. Starboard and right do not match.

Easy way to remember.
 
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kryp2nite26

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Well, I'm about at my witts end with this darm motor. I was certain that the faulty coils and wires were the problem. But here I am on the lake alone in a 14 ft v-hull aluminum boat going 7 mph wide open. I'm stumped.
 
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racerone

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What are the compression values ?-----Does spark jump a gap of 5/16" on both leads ?----Checked the reed valves.----Checked fuel pump diaphragm ?
 
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