Help with antique evinrude

clayhubler · Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2024 10:27 pm Post subject: Help with antique evinrude

Any experts on old outboards on here? My son and I are trying to get a 1968 evinrude starflite 100hp going and having a time with it. He is 16 and this is his first boat. It’s a 1968 reinell, 17 ft and in very nice shape. Very neat boat. When we got it there was no spark. We replaced the entire ignition system and the motor did fire off but died. Lots of repeats of this, always dies. Once we ran it for a whole minute by reving the motor slightly at the carb and thought we were really making progress. We shut it off with the key. It started one time since then but after that no start. If anybody is able to offer advice or willing to give me a call please PM with number.
Thanks

thataway · Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2024 10:37 pm Post subject:

I am not positive the vintage of my motor about that age, but was an Evinrude Selectric or electric shift. My motor was very reliable. I did have a problem with the shift in the lower unit. The outboard mechanic at two harbors Catalina, had one off a salvaged engine, and It worked flawlessly on my boat for another 10 years.

It could be the plugs, the points, the wires, the coil or the distributer. I had worked on all of these the 18 years I owned the boat and motor. The carburetors fuel pumps, and fuel lines (need to be updated if older) are all areas to check out.

They had a good reputation. I cannot be specific with out having hands on--several of our members are experts on those older motors.

Robert H. Wilkinson · Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2024 12:31 am Post subject:

OMC received a bad batch of wiring harnesses in 1968. Check all wires for cracked insulation. Many problems caused by this. Another thing you can try is switching plugs to I77JC4 - gapped to 0.030" - these have been found to work better on older engines than the original ones.

Good luck,

Rob

TyBoo · Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2024 1:12 am Post subject:

I can't offer any help but am a little offended by you thinking 1968 is antique. I was almost through with high school then - that was not that long ago.

C-Wolfe · Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2024 2:41 am Post subject:

I don’t know anything about that specific engine but those are much more simple than the new one we have now. I’m sure your kid want to get it running and have fun with it but it could be cool project. Just go through all the basic, you already cover the spark, I would look at compression next as it should be a quick pass or not, then fuel system. check for any crack in hose, including in the vacuum side, might have the rebuilt/clean the carbs. Just be prepare that might not be fast.
I purchased my wife dream car about a year ago, a 1966 VW Karmann Ghia, none running. did same as you did with the ignition system after finding some issues. It ran but rough, tune the carb, not much better, turn out one cylinder has very low compression, my next step is to rebuilt the cylinders. It’s all part of the fun on those older (not antic as to not often TyBoo) toys. Enjoy the process

Robert H. Wilkinson · Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2024 2:02 pm Post subject:

If you need any parts there are a number of places that stock them for vintage Evinrude/Johnson motors.

Salmon Fisher · Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2024 2:23 pm Post subject:

This company is in Washington State and has been in business of OMC/Johnson/Evinrude and others for a long time. Friend did business with them and was very pleased.

https://www.seawaymarine.com/

Robert H. Wilkinson · Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2024 2:31 pm Post subject:

There are also a number of different groups where you can ask questions specific to Evinrude/Johnson vintage motors.

Here is one on fb with a large following -
https://www.facebook.com/groups/409866204446422

Robert H. Wilkinson · Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2024 2:40 pm Post subject:

T.R. Bauer · Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2024 4:47 pm Post subject:

There are so many things it can be. If you haven't checked, does it have strong compression on all 4 cylinders? If not you have to address that issue before you go on.

Does it have a nice hot spark at each of the 4 plugs? If so, then the ignition system is working as it should. A weak spark has kept many of these engines from running correctly. But....probably not it since you replaced the whole ignition system. BTW....a faulty ignition switch can cause a weak or no spark condition too.

If it has passed the above checks, it is likely to be a fuel issue.....main jets clogged, stuck floats, bad gaskets, all that stuff. It has 2 carbs right? They are pretty simple to rebuild and you can still get rebuild kits for them. It wouldn't shock me at all they are full of crud.

As others have noted, these are generally dependable and good engines. I have had a few of them and all of them ran very well, had great power, smelled bad, and sucked lots of gas. I actually like them and wish the best of luck getting to bottom of it.

thataway · Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2024 6:47 pm Post subject:

clayhubler · Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2024 8:00 pm Post subject:

Thanks everybody for the replies. I haven’t checked compression, but it feels and sounds like it has good compression, but I haven’t put a gauge on it yet. I think I may need to take apart the carburetors, but I was really hoping I wouldn’t have to. The previous owner said that he had the carbs rebuilt, but they haven’t been tuned or adjusted yet since the motor hasn’t been running.
I’ve never had a two stroke before. Is it normal for a lot of oil leak out of the exhaust?

T.R. Bauer · Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2024 8:34 pm Post subject:

clayhubler · Posted: Wed Dec 25, 2024 12:46 am Post subject:

Thanks, that makes me feel better 👍