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80's 30 HP Evinrude.. No start, good compression, good spark...

B

bulletbob

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Checked it out last summer, was for sale on FB at $400.. has good, even compression[around 120 psi each cyl..I think], good spark, used fresh premix i brought myself, plus tried starting fluid, but never even a hickup.. Strong cranking, motor is clean as a whistle, but gave no indication of an attempt to fire.. I am thinking along the lines of a broken crank key maybe, or something else that would make the spark timing go totally out of whack.. an other possibilities??.. Guy has now relisted it, could not sell it last year,wants $350, I offered $250, not sure he''ll bite, but I have gotten burnt on "fixer uppers" too many times, and not sure i want to spend a lot to get this one running.. I don't mind replacing the key or even the flywheel, but I was perplexed at why this motor would not chug or spit even with good fuel, comp, and spark.... 2 strokes are not my strong suit, more of a car engine guy, but it would seem to me that a broken crank key is likely.. just would have to hope the crank slot itself isn't wiped out... any other possibilities I might be overlooking?
 
How was spark tested? Just with a spark plug?? These generally require a rock/log/grounding strike to shear a flywheel key, unless flywheel had once been removed and not installed properly.
 
Yes, plain old spark plug, but it was a good solid spark both cyls... This motor was in a barn, and they were trying to sell it as a runner, but it would not.. I tested comp,spark and fuel on site in sellers yard with water running through muffs I brought myself ... Even with starting fluid, there was never a hint of the motor firing.. sounded like a motor with no spark, but it had a solid blue spark... It may have hit a rock or log, died, and then they tried to sell it, but the prop looked fine,, Entire engine was quite clean, inside and out.. However its 8 months later and still hasn't sold... most guys won't pay much for a non runner these days, and I don't blame them... I wrote the seller, told him I would take a chance at $250... I am hoping someone has a few ideas as to what could cause a 2 stroke outboard motor to not start, with good fuel/spark/compression... Only other thing besides spark timing I can think of is severely restricted exhaust, but that sounds implausible on an outboard to me, although I have seen it on very small 2 strokes such as in a chain saw.... bob
 
I have had the same problem with engines that have been idle for years. Good spark,fuel, etc. I found that blowing very low pressure air into carb throat WHILE cranking will get them running. I suspect stuck/sticking reeds.
 
I am just guessing. I have pulled and pulled on some of these engines. When I say several years I mean 20 years or more. As a “last resort “ I tried the air as a way to force feed/distribute the fuel-oil mixture. May work for some but not all? Just my experience.
 
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