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rodm717

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I have a '76 Evinrude 85hp v4 that I've been very happy with. New coils, wires, plugs, and fuel pump, working great for two years. Last trip out 2 weeks ago and has ran great until this morning. I could not get it start and also could not get my kicker to start. First time.
I swapped fuel tanks and disconnected/reconnected multiple times and checked the choke and actuated the throttle linkage. Nothing. Full battery, just topped off last night.
I'm going to check spark, voltage,and compression. I bought a new fuel tank and fittings to eliminate that, but also want pass the fuel through a filter while transferring the new fuel into the new tank to a new tank just in case s I'mome water got in the fuel. I'm thinking it has to be fuel or electrical.
Any other ideas or experience with these older v4's would be appreciated. I have read the starters can sometimes pose a problem by not producing the full amount of voltage and intend to check that. The starter looks older, if not original.
I ordered and will have some diagnostic tools in
the next couple of days to help.
Horrible to have this happen at height of crabbing in the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. Realistically only 6-8 weeks left.
 
Okay, I have spark on all 4 cylinders and compression is 125psi across all 4 cylinders. So far so good. But when I pulled the plugs , I noticed one was fouled and black while the others were fairly decent. More importantly, I am not smelling gas after after dry firing while compression testing. I pulled the new looking fuel pump cover, gas coming out until I pulled hose, and the screen looks clean and gas is freshly mixed non-ethanol. I generally try to only run non-ethanol.
Next steps are to clean or replace plugs, remove air box to spray a little starter fluid directly into carbs, and measure voltage off of coils. Going from running fine to nothing is starting make me think there is an issue with fuel flow more than anything. Possibly the pump. Only 2 years old, but.....
Any thoughts or other ideas are appreciated.
 
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Also, running fine to nothing, I'm finding it hard to think it is the carburators, but not counting that out. Pulling the line to the carbs from the pump should tell me something. Ran out of light, but hope to get back to it tomorrow.
 
I would drain the carbs & see if clean fuel (pre-mixed obviously) or a water cocktail comes out.
Obviously it's highly unlikely both motors broke down simultaneously.
 
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