two-stroke spark

[Daniel]

I've an old (small) suzuki outboard with no spark.

The kill cord appears to short the coil output to earth, so i've disconnected it. Still no spark (also tested kill switch which is functioning).

Obviously there is "something" in the flywheel (this engine has no other electrics, battery etc.) with an earth and a single output wire comming out from under the flywheel and into the coil - is this a magneto type arrangment? Are there points? I don't really know much about the concept!

Can i "test" this output to further diagnose the fault - an AVO meter or something prehaps (guess you won't see anything on a DVM). Should i just whip the flysheel off - what am i looking for!

<edit> this is a single cylinder engine, 3.5hp i think

[Swifty]

Paul F may be able to shed more light but it sounds like its an older magneto system. If it was a cdi design there would be more wires coming from under the flywheel to a seperate ignition pack. Anyway under the flywheel you will probably find a set of points and a bigish induction coil. Check the coil and terminals are ok and the points are clean and opening / closing.

For my money I would say the points are the problem.

Tim'mers.

[REKRAP]

re check kill switch right the way back................... and hard wire around in case or give the guys at Deal RNLI a bell ones a excellent mechanic outside as well as in the RNLI ( Nelson )

[TIM]

cheack the simplest thing first ...... the spark plug !!, there has been a lot of engines pulled apart over a doggy spark plug .

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by REKRAP

re check kill switch right the way back................... and hard wire around in case

have done

Originally Posted by TIM

cheack the simplest thing first ...... the spark plug !!, there has been a lot of engines pulled apart over a doggy spark plug

have done

Sounds like there are points so that's my next point of investigation...

[REKRAP]

[Daniel]

sorry, very bad of me not to reply to this!

Yes i located the points and cleaned them... hey presto!

Infact it'll be tested on my inflatable SIB this weekend and is likely to appear in the for sale section soon. I've treated it to a new plug and good grease up today!

[REKRAP]

Originally Posted by Daniel

sorry, very bad of me not to reply to this!

Yes i located the points and cleaned them... hey presto!

Infact it'll be tested on my inflatable SIB this weekend and is likely to appear in the for sale section soon. I've treated it to a new plug and good grease up today!

Excellent

[Nyarla]

If the points condition was poor and it wasn`t obviously damp, corrosion, grease then suspect condensor trouble as well. If changing points in an ignition system, it`s always worth changing the condensor as well.
Having said that I changed the points and condensor on a 2CV once (nightmare job) and the new condensor went tits up in 5 miles.