1957 Evinrude Fiherman 5.5 – Spark issue

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  • April 7, 2026 at 6:00 pm #314515
    Patrick Brown
    Participant

      Hi guys,

      I’m trying to get this motor running. It’s been sitting untouched since 1983. The problem is that I have no spark on bottom cylinder. (Top cylinder is fine.)  I have replaced coil, points, spark plug wire, condenser and sparkplug. Points are opening and closing as they should. Still no spark. I’ve “eyeballed” the coil placement and “it seems” to be OK. I swapped coils between top cylinder and bottom cylinder and the problem did not follow – still spark on top, nothing on bottom. What am I overlooking???

      Any ideas?

      Thanks

      Pat Brown

      April 7, 2026 at 6:14 pm #314517
      Buccaneer
      Participant

        US Member

        Did you swap condensers as well?
        Could the one set of points be grounded out some how?
        Bad spark plug wire?
        Is there a “kill” circuit of any kind that may be shorted?

         

        Prepare to be boarded!

        April 7, 2026 at 8:09 pm #314525
        PM T2
        Participant

          Canada Member

          Usually if there is a no-spark condition on one cylinder and changing the coils doesn’t change the result, look for something grounded that shouldn’t be. Wires touching that shouldn’t be, insulator(s) missing or installed in the wrong spot, etc. Check the spark plug lead on the cylinder that isn’t working, the insulation might be worn through and the bare wire grounds out on the magneto plate.

          I’ve had it where some joker drove a tiny nail through the centre of the spark plug wire so that it was grounding out against the plate, but that’s another story….

          PM T2

          He's livin' in his own private Idaho..... I hope to go out quietly in my sleep, like my grand-dad did..... and not screaming, like the passengers in his car...

          April 7, 2026 at 9:54 pm #314537
          Patrick Brown
          Participant

            I have changed every component. Nothing helped. Maybe next I’ll change the points, again. Maybe something is shorting out. Very frustrating. Thanks for the suggestions. I’ll keep looking.

            April 7, 2026 at 9:57 pm #314538
            Don
            Participant

              US Member

              Well, you have swapped the coils, but the problem remained.  Next you might try swapping the points, then the condenser.   You may have an issue with the plug wire you replaced also, perhaps it got pinched in one of the clamps or is open…

              April 8, 2026 at 11:30 am #314594
              JACQUES
              Participant

                have you taken a Ohms reading from plug boots to engine frame …    post both results  you should see something  like  4-8Kohms

                no coil wires  rubbing the shaft ??

                if you did not replace  plug wires why not do for 20 more  years of   good service from your oldy.   7mm  cooper stand wire

                and by the way…. they do break in flex points  cracked-wires

                see picture

                 

                Joining AOMCI has priviledges 🙂

                April 8, 2026 at 4:56 pm #314612
                labrador-guy
                Participant

                  US MEMBER PAY BY CHECK

                  Try cleaning your new points.  Sometimes they have a coating on them that is hard to see!  Also try spinning the motor with an electric drill with the plugs out.

                  dale

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