Vintage sled won't spark - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

Nabber · 01-17-2008, 07:09 PM

I just got a 1973- 440cc Evinrude-Johnson Skimmer and can't get the thing to start. It has no spark and i can't figure out how to get it spark. Can anybody help? It's in pretty good shape otherwise. If it gets a spark i know it'll start. What type of spark plug would it need?
Thanks

upersleder · 01-17-2008, 08:53 PM

well its most likely the points and condenser. but first you can unplug the wiring harness from the motor to the sled, this will eliminate the sled grounding out the ignition. you will need to start with new spark plugs. can get them at any auto store.

SnowRida · 01-17-2008, 09:52 PM

Submit that sled the the vintage SOTM!

**RJ Gleason** · 01-18-2008, 06:53 AM

According to my book, those used a CDI, not points.
The engine is either model M243 or M248 built by O.M.C.
Used plug # UL-77V by Champion, gapped at 0.030.
The testing procedures are quite complicated for this unit and I do not have the pages scanned into the computer yet.

Old Man · 01-18-2008, 11:23 AM

Actually the Champion UL-77V is a surface gap plug, so the gap is fixed. There is no NGK equivalent for this plug.

Nabber · 01-18-2008, 02:16 PM

Do you know what the model # for the coils would be by chance? and would the sled spark at all with the wrong plugs?
Thanks for the help

Old Man · 01-18-2008, 06:45 PM

No I do not have the part number for the coils. With any good plug that is grounded well, you should be able to produce a spark. With that said, don't assume that you have coil problems. As RJ mentioned there are alot of other items that should be checked (ie. charging coils, trigger coils, CDI box etc.) These tests are too complicated to just deal with in a few sentence on a post. A service manual would come in handy at this point.

**RJ Gleason** · 01-20-2008, 06:42 PM

You can test for juice ahead of the CDI. It is a good chance that the CDI is no good.

Nabber · 01-22-2008, 07:18 PM

This sled had electric start at one time i do believe. The wiring seems to be pretty mickey mouse. I have a manual coming to me. How do you check for juice before the CDI?

**RJ Gleason** · 01-23-2008, 08:25 AM

Unplug the wires from the engine and use a Meter set for VAC and that has a buzzer if possible.
Pull the engine over and see what the reading is. You should get as much as 20 VAC to have good enough spark.
Then you check after the CDI to see if it is passing the voltage through to the coil. If not, the CDI needs to be replaced.