Expert: Everett Peacock - 12/8/2009

Question
this is the problem. had intermittent spark on one side of engine with 1/2" spark continuous on other. doing a visual and wiggle test of wiring found i could hold white wire from timer base and get good spark to side with intermittent spark. bending this wire would cause spark or no spark to side that was intermittent. installed new evinrude timer base to engine. lost all spark to engine. removed new timer base and install old timer base and had spark again. i went through 3 timer bases with evinrude and each would cause me to have no spark on either side. put old timer base back in and had spark. verified part numbers with several dealers to ensure proper timer base. correct. put in new stator with old timer base. lost all spark. tried another stator from evinrude with same result. no spark either side. put old stator and timer base back in and have intermittent spark again on one side with good spark on other. took flywheel to dealer and found flywheel ok. had them test new stators and new timer base and was told all tested out ok. took old timer base and stator in and tested ok. replaced timer base, stator, both switch boxes and coils with new sparkplug wires and sparkplugs. cleaned all grounds on motor and cranked engine over and have no spark. disconnected kill wires to ignition switch from timer base and still no spark. any ideas. i'm lost

Answer
did you do output test on the stator and trigger??? did you do resistance test and short to ground test??
Here is the ign system trigger, should have at least 5volts AC at cranking speed..stator should have two outputs, left and right..should have at least 120 ac volts with a peak voltage meter...the flywheel magnets, ignition coil, sparkplug..you can also get these parts remanufactured not from OMC cheaper..CDI electronics...
it really sounds like a ground problem...