Force 85 no spark

[Griswald_4324]

I have a 90's Bayliner bass boat with a 85 Force outboard. It has been sitting in my barn for 5 years. It ran fine when I put it away. Cleaned it up, added new gas and will not start. There is no spark on any of the 3 cyliders. I suspected the kill swich by the boat console. I check with an ohmmeter and there is no change when activating it (bad switch). If I connect the 2 wire together from the switch, there is still no spark. I'm pretty good electrically but am at a loss. Please help with a logical sequence of tests to help find the problem. Thanks......

 

[MikDee]

Re: Force 85 no spark

Welcome! Griswald, Is your name Clark by any chance?
just/kidding but, it seems so apropos,,, Try disconnecting those 2 wires, and see if you have spark? It could be when they're connected, the spark could be going to ground. (kill switch on)

 

[Griswald_4324]

Re: Force 85 no spark

Thanks for the input. I tried it both ways and do not have spark either way. Any other ideas????????? It's Sparky not Clark.(Just kidding)

 

[maxum247]

Re: Force 85 no spark

Check all wires on the boat, also check the harness plugins and make certain there tight, but likely the ignition switch or kill switch will be suspect. If all checks well with the wiring, etc, and all ground wires on the engine and plugins are tight, test the stator under the flywheel. A bad stator will cause a no fire situation.

 

[Griswald_4324]

Re: Force 85 no spark

Thanks. Is the stator check a physical check or an electrical check? Do remove the flywheel to check it out. I have checked the wiring and have a bad kill switch, but still no spark if i disconnect both kill switch wires or short them together.

 

[Stavie]

Re: Force 85 no spark

Hello Griswald I had similar problems so I ran a few tests that you may be able to apply.To start get yourself a voltage meter one with at least an ohm meter and dva model preferably.First what color are your ignition packs the tests are the same but the wire colors are updated on on the blue packs and coils.Btw I'm doing this from memory so get yourself a book for confirmed color it should also be printed on a sticker on the motor I don't see an outboard 1990 85 hp only an 89 but regardless I do see a L-drive 1990 85 hp I could be wrong though.Anyway on to the tests.

Some things to consider before doing any tests especially electric, in no paticular order

1 Tools do you have them can you get them and so on.
2 Battery fully charged
3 Someone to help make things go much smoother
4 Remove any and all gas if possible it will make it much safer for electrical testing (keep in mind no fuel means no lubacation) so you'll need to oil the cyliders while when turning over the engine
5 Remove the spark plugs (this will make turn over the engine much easier) ground the spark plug leads to the block, you can use some scrap wire. You can use the open spark plugs opening to inject some oil to protect the cyls.
5 You will need to turn the engine over for some tests
a. If the lower unit is still attached make sure you have ear muffs you cn burn up an impeller real quick I know
b.If the lower unit is off then no worries.

Time out lets do this an easier way

http://www.ebasicpower.com/downloads/cditech/CDI-Troubleshooting_Guide-FORCE.pdf

Good luck shoot me a pm if I can answer anything specific.

 

[jonnyz94]

Re: Force 85 no spark

Hey Sparky
Check out this thread and how Frank and Maxum helped me out with same problem!

 

[jonnyz94]

Re: Force 85 no spark

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=259167

 

[Griswald_4324]

Re: Force 85 no spark

Everyone:
Thanks for all the input. I finally got the engine to run and took it out on the lake today. It ran at about half speed. When I got home I started it and pulled the wire off one plug at a time and found that #2 WAS NOT FIRING. The plug is new and fires when put into #3 cylinder. I did a resistance check on the stator wires and on the trigger wires and they check out fine. A troubleshooting book I have says samething about disconnecting a kill wire to see if there is a bad diode. I don't know what the kill wire is or where the diode is located. I'm gettin close to getting this boat back up and running. I just need to solve this last problem. Help!!!!!!!!!!

 

[maxum247]

Re: Force 85 no spark

The kill wire is the white wire coming off of each CD module.
Try swaping coils and see if the miss moves with the coil.