Reply To: Johnson 1949 HD 25 No Spark

[TiIngot]

Again, thank you for your all your help.  I am finally done with this part of the refurbish process on this HD-25.  I HAVE SPARK ON BOTH CYLINDERS!!!  I owe it to everyone that followed this, a final reply.  This was my first outboard project so everything I did I was second guessing myself, over thinking it all.

Once I received the complete used magneto assembly, I could compare meter readings between the two and found one of my magneto’s was bad.  Second, one of the point sets that I filed and cleaned continued to be bad.  Third, I replaced the old-style spark plug wire ends with the modern ends.  It was easier to install the used magneto assembly that swap the bad coil.

Through it all I installed two NOS condensers, two new spark plugs, the used magneto assembly, reset all point and magneto gaps, changed the gear lube oil, straightened out the recoil spring, replaced the broken starter rope, purchased a vintage owner’s manual and downloaded the repair manual.  When I stored it decades ago, I drained all the fuel in the tank and the carburetor.  I feel confident when I finally get it in some water the fuel and ignition systems will be ok.  My biggest fear is low compression in the cylinders.  I am hoping it will improve when it runs this summer.

Thanks again for all the help.

Retired titanium melt shop manager. (Think about me next time you fly in a window seat and look at the engines spinning below the wings!)