intermittent ignition problem

[Vin P]

My '72 Evinrude 50 sometimes won't start when cold, and has no spark. If I try again later, sometimes in a few minutes, sometimes the next day, it fires and runs great. I have not been able to isolate it. Everything I can test when it happens looks good, and then eventually it starts. Could it be the power pak? Any way to test it?<br /><br />Thanks

 

[Gold Bear]

Re: intermittent ignition problem

Go through all electrical conections and clean / wire brush the connections (and take a close look at the quality of the connections). Solder any wire connections (versus using crimp on type connectors).<br /><br />I have a 1972 Mercury, and I solved a similar problem by doing this. Don't forget to clean the ground connections also. Pull the spark plug wires and coil lead wire and clean them, and coat them with di-electric grease. Pull the distributor cap (if it has one) and scrape / wire brush the end of the rotor, rotor to carbon brush contact point and the terminals that go through the cap to each plug wire.<br /><br />Make sure your battery is fully charged.<br /><br />I would try this before going to the dealer to have him test your electronics pack.<br /><br />Good Luck ...I hope this helps.<br /><br />Gold Bear<br />

 

[Vin P]

Re: intermittent ignition problem

Thanks Gold Bear,<br />I suspect that it may be a bad ground or a loose connection, although I haven't been able to find it yet.<br />I still wonder if anyone has had this type of problem due to a bad power pak.