2 questions: Can I check for spark using an automotive timing light on each one of the wires? What exactly do you mean by "check the plugs"? How am I checking them and why do I check them before the motor acts up? It would be almost impossible for me to approximate a time that the motor will start acting up. Thanks in advance.
Yes automotive light works fine - by checking the plugs i mean take them out (bit tricky over the water!) but the only way to really "know" whats happening is to run the motor at full / as fast as possible for 2 minutes at least. immediately shut the motor down, and remove the plugs - when i did mine the top one was a tan brown, and bottom 2 a bit more wet.. take some good pics as well. careful the plugs might be hot, and dont drop em in the water
I have a stout ski bar hich really helps, otherwise rtating the motor all the way helps..
You might get a good tan reading on all of them - and still have heat related issues, but at least this will eliminate a bad coil, switchbox, crank seal, reed valve or something else.. if they all burn good before the problems show up it will eliminate ALOT of electronic tests!
Either way - you can also try this when its runnning bad to try eliminate a bad coil..
Basic tools that really work are:
Digital multimeter (cheap is fine) with a dva adapter (5 cheap elec components soldered together
Spark gap tester (can also make one DIY with a grounding clamp and old plug..
compression test will confirm good compression, not sure if it will rule out bad reeds but i guess so.. bad reeds = smoke / fuel coming out of carbs at the front. bad crank seal will have a wet/dirty drive shaft as well as bad burning on cyl3 and a bit on 2 (my symptoms) - although im still troubleshooting! having a spare stator is never a bad thing, wrap your old one up for the future
hope it works out! fyi the reg/rect test is super easy, basic diode test with all the cables removed.. if yours is the diamond shaped one with 3 terminals iirc you should ONLY get a one way reading from the yellow top two down to the red OUT, and not vice versa - also none should touch ground either.. but dbl check online..
I got caught up in all the tests and variable information - but after doing a few they are actually quite simple. Best thing is to write down results, at least you can build up a page with alot of info.. resistance checks, dva voltages, etc..