dang newbies

[bkeller]

i just got my first boat with what i believe is a '68 9.5hp evinrude sportwin. i pulled it twice and it fired right up. i was adjusting the rich/lean knob while in the throttle a little and it started "white smoking" after about 3 seconds. i backed off and hit the stop button. since then i haven't been able to get any spark from the plugs and it won't even so much as sputter to turn over. can someone help me out please. thanks

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: dang newbies

Hi Bkeller<br /><br />Were you running it with the lower unit in a tub of water or on muffs? Sounds like it was overheating. Might let it cool a bit and see if for sure you have no spark...

 

[mikeyzx2]

Re: dang newbies

dang newbies......<br /><br />First thing, I'd check that the stop button's not stuck closed and still grounding the ignition since that's the last thing you did before now. After that, you'll need to pull the flywheel and clean the points and reset the gaps. Get a manual or get some technical specs from a mechanic or dealer on setting the points.<br /><br />Where do you hang your hat in Tennessee by the way?<br /><br />Good luck and welcome to iboats!

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: dang newbies

If his favorite fishin' hole is the Clinch river, he's near me, in East Tenn.

 

[bkeller]

Re: dang newbies

i was running it in a large tub of water. i lived in halls and now we moved to madisonville. i checked the grounding and it was still secure. i wouldn't know if the stop button is stuck. i checked it and it still moves in and out.

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: dang newbies

I'd go ahead and disconnect the two wires that run to the stop switch and see if you're spark returns. There is very little of the ignition system common to both cylinders.

 

[bkeller]

Re: dang newbies

i just fininshed trying the stop switch. i still didn't get any spark from the plugs. they are by the way brand new today. i checked compression and it's good on both cylinders.

 

[bkeller]

Re: dang newbies

the plugs are gapped at about .025

 

[fireman57]

Re: dang newbies

BoatBouy he is closer to me now that he is in Madisonville. Does this mean that he becomes my responsibility? Just kidding bk. If you had white smoke that usually indicates water in a cylinder which hopefully is nothing but a bad head gasket. Pricey but better than the cost of a rebuild. Pull your plugs and look at them. If one is burning a nice chocolate color and the other is white or very clean then I would guess head gasket. The other thing is once you have the head off (if your plugs are like I'm guessing) check the cylinders for scoring or a broken ring. You haven't said how long you had this engine but you might do a compression test on it. Real easy, just get a cheap compression tester from AutoZ and check both of them and report back the results. BTW, I'm just up in Eville.

 

[bkeller]

Re: dang newbies

i checked both plugs and neither have any white. i'm not real familar with where other towns are around here except maryville and knoxville.<br />they looked pretty clean also. i could smell gas on them though. almost like it keeps flooding. i checked the whole carb jet and all and everything looked good.

 

[bkeller]

Re: dang newbies

i just remembered that the new plugs haven't seemed to have fired yet so naturally they're clean. but the other plugs that were in when it was running are that chocolate color.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: dang newbies

If you know for a fact that you're not getting spark to EITHER plug, and you've disconnected the kill switch, about the only thing left that's common to both is a sheared flywheel key. This would allow flywheel to shift position, throwing off the timing between the points and the magnets passing the coils. <br /><br />Of course there's the remote coincidence of failures in a component in both sides of the mag, i.e a coil on one side, points on the other; coil on both sides; etc.

 

[bkeller]

Re: dang newbies

Originally posted by BoatBuoy:<br /> If you know for a fact that you're not getting spark to EITHER plug, and you've disconnected the kill switch, about the only thing left that's common to both is a sheared flywheel key. This would allow flywheel to shift position, throwing off the timing between the points and the magnets passing the coils. <br /><br />Of course there's the remote coincidence of failures in a component in both sides of the mag, i.e a coil on one side, points on the other; coil on both sides; etc.

 

[bkeller]

Re: dang newbies

i checked both spark plugs and re-confirmed there is no spark. i'm not familiar with marine motors but have found both coils and points. my question is how do i know what if anything is wrong with any combination of coils and/or points. also it says the points have to be gapped at .020 but not sure which end of points i'm supposed to gap. i know it sounds silly but i'm learnin' fast

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: dang newbies

The flywheel is positioned in a precise position with respect to the crankshaft. That position is dictated by a key which fits between a slot in the inside bore of the flywheel hole and a slot in the crankshaft. It then locks the flywheel in position.<br /><br />The gap of each set of points must be set separately. Rotate the crankshaft clockwise until the one set of points are at their widest gap. Loosen the anchor screw and turn the adjusting screw while checking with a .020 feeler guage. Turn the crankshaft 180 degrees and set the other set of points the same way. The image is not your motor but yours should be similar.<br /><br />A good manual would answer many of your questions, and provide drawings/images to go by.<br /><br />

 

[bkeller]

Re: dang newbies

you're awesome! that looks exactly like my motor. i'm going right now to try it. oh by the way i now am getting spark in both plugs. at first it was blue but now it's orange.

 

[bkeller]

Re: dang newbies

the key to the flywheel in which you're speaking is broken so i've been eyeballing it up. i take it that won't work huh?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: dang newbies

eyeballing doesn't work, besure to torque properly or you'll break another key.

 

[mikeyzx2]

Re: dang newbies

glad ya got it isolated! be sure to keep a couple spare keys on hand. I also think the key has to be positioned in the crankshaft a certain way, since the crank's tapered towards the end.

 

[bkeller]

Re: dang newbies

you guys did it! i replaced the key because i looked and sure enough it was broken off. i gapped the points just as you said and it started on the second pull. it ran great....only now i can't get it into forward. reverse works great though. can't figure out how to get the cover off the motor.