1973 V4 115 just quit

[Enf0rc3r]

Hi everyone. New to the forum and hopefully can get some help.

I have a 1973 V4 115 with evinrude power pilot controls on my 1987 Chaparral 178. I had it out yesterday for the first time. It ran like a scared dog for about a half hour, pumped water nice, temp was good, got the boat up to 40mph.

Then, it started idling erratically, and shut off. The only way it would start was with the warm up lever on, as soon as I dropped it down it shut off. Now today I ran the battery down trying to start it. It keeps trying to fire but won't start up.

I opened the tank today, spotless. I checked the carbs today, pretty clean (we have ethanol free at the gas station up here). Spark plugs are new, power pack is about a year old, coils are new. I wouldnt lose compression instantly like that would I?

I know I have to adjust my cables, but I'm new to this setup and its difficult without a manual for a rookie. When I raise the warm up lever all the way, the motor won't even turn over so I'm ***uming its hitting the safety switch? Also the control handle shifts perfectly but doesn't move the throttle until I move it about 3". There is adjustment left on the cable end. Also how does one adjust the idle on this thing?

Thanks

[Solarman]

It sounds like a timing issue. Did motor backfire just before it quit? If yes, there is a key between crank shaft and flywheel that may have sheared?
Can you remove the flywheel nut, and flat washer, then inspect the key-way slot (between flywheel, and crank shaft) to see if still inline together (not sure if your key-way is visible like mine this way?). If you can't see your key-way slot this way, you would have to pull flywheel to see if key is not sheared. If you see the two slots (one for crank, one for flywheel), are they lined up together perfectly, or not?
Look all around flywheel for any signs that a magnet might have come loose, fallen out of place. If a magnet shifted it could throw timing out as well. It might be worth pulling flywheel to inspect everything under it.

I would recommend fixing throttle cable slackness too, it can't help you the way it is.

I don't know anything about the power pilot feature, what does it do? Is it part of the control system at the helm?

Post back when able.

[Enf0rc3r]

Yeah the power pilot is the name of the evinrude helm controls. The flywheel looks good. I tried adjusting those cables and I can't figure it out. I know its probably something dumb but like I said I've never had to deal with them before.

[coueytwo]

You need to do a spark and compression check, 2 stroke motors only need gas, spark and compression to run. Let us know you comp numbers and we can go from there. Remember bright blue sparks