Question about rectifier on 50 hp 1980 Evinrude

[Bob Christopher]

" Hi all. I'm a auto mecha

" Hi all. I'm a auto mechanic by trade so please bear with me. I've got a 1980 50 hp Evinrude with a no spark condition. I bought the motor from a guy that said it ran fine when he used it last but when he shut it off it had no spark to restart.
I've checked for the kill wires being shorted out and so forth. I have read on the boards that with the rectifier removed it should not show continuity. Is this correct. Mine shows continuity across all the wires. If the rectifier is bad would it cause a no spark condition?
Thanks,
BC "

 

[sparky]

the rectifier has to do with

the rectifier has to do with the charging system and has nothing to do with ignition.

 

[bob christopher]

Thats what I had thought but

Thats what I had thought but just about all the no start flow charts involve checking the rectifier?
BC

 

[sparky]

Do a resistance check on the

Do a resistance check on the sensors and the charge coil for the ignition.It is most likely that the cd unit failed. You could also pull the black and yellow stripe wire out of the plug in for the cd to open the on off circuit and see if there is ignition then.

 

[walkabout]

" Bob, try disconecting the wi

" Bob, try disconecting the wire harness and jump it at the started sylenoid. If this produces spArk then it is the key switch causing the problem. This is a good way to eliminate that as a possible problem, they go bad all the time and ground out the coil(s). If you fire up the engine like this just remember that you may have to choke it something to get it to shut off. Good luck "