Logo

Weak spark?

Dog Clinic

New member
Hi all. I have a 1956 Evinrude 30hp. It runs a little rough and I hooked up an in-line spark plug tester. The light in the tester flashes red, which seems to indicate a weak spark. Points and condenser are new. Where should I be looking to diagnose the issue? I’m not really fluent with the pieces under the fly wheel, so if you have an answer please write slowly...
 
Points opening at the wrong time.----Bad coils.---Wrong air gap on the coils-----Make a spark test device with a gap of 1/4" between wires( even speaker wire) to properly test spark.----Look for ---leroysramblings----There you can learn all about this wonderful , easy to maintain magneto.
 
Yes one of the all-time best magneto. Have you checked the coils carefully that they are properly installed? The big wire, going down through the stator plate to the spark plug, has it been replaced with a carbon core wire or is it still the original copper core wire? These have to be a copper core wire or otherwise there is too much resistance for this type of magneto. If some "cue ball" put the new coils on, we need to make sure that the wires are screwed completely onto the post in the coil. The points need to be cleaned and gapped to .020 and make sure that the cam wick has a drop of good quality oil on it. As Racer mentioned the coils have to show their face at the top edge of the bevel and not sticking too close to the flywheel. A simple gap tester can be made by pushing a number 2 Phillips into the spark plug wire boot and with the screwdriver shank held approximately 3/8 of an inch from a good ground ......like for example a head bolt. Make sure all the wires are safe from being pinched or being able to rub on anything moving as the flywheel turns.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top