Reply To: 1978 Evinrude 2hp.

[Don]

Well, 56PSI is pretty low for that engine…It won’t fire even when you squirt fuel/oil into the cylinder? When was the last time it ran OK? How long has it been sitting since then? Compression readings are often false on these little combustion chambers, you might try a different gage…
Once the compression reading is confirmed, you might want to pull the head if compression is still low…Maybe it is just blown head gasket….Be sure water hasn’t entered the cylinder, squirt plenty of oil in there to keep rust away…