Driving me crazy (a short trip!)

[tfbrown1270]

My 1989 85 hp Force, new to me, is finaly in the lake..I changed the head gasket and two exhaust cover gaskets, compression is 130ish on all 3, problem is this; when I start the beast....push in the key, I can hear the choke plate move and see it move, gas tank bulb is pumped up firm, not rock hard, it'll never get there, then start it. It'll usually start fine and idle fast..I start it with the shift lever pulled away from the base and advanced...I leave it to run for 1 or 3 sometimes 3-5 minutes (hoping)....before popping the shift lever back in mo move away....Its usually the smog (that I'm creating) that drives me away from the dock...anyway as soon as I pop it in gear and it moves a couple feet.....cough!...its dead and it takes multiple tries to get it going again.....It'll run at moderate pace all day (till it gobbles up the 5 gals of gas in the tank (abt 1.5 hrs), I dodn't know how fast it'll go but max speed feels like abt 30 mph....3/4 throttle is real smooth...and dies when I idle it back to the dock...then its a PIA to restart to get on the trailer....any ideas?Thanks Tim

[fixin]

It sounds like your fuel pump needs rebuilding,it's a cheap and easy start,I'd clean out the carb too.

[roscoe]

Don't remember if you have the interlock safety switch on that model, a slightly different version of a neutral safety switch, if you do, it may need adjusting.

[BF]

Hiya,Sounds to me like partially clogged low speed jet(s) in the carb(s). Running lean on the idle circuit creates a dead spot that you need to get past before it draws fuel through the main (high speed) jets.Sometimes you can tell it's a lean spot because if you give it a quick bump of the choke, it will allow it to get past that spot.If the fuel pump was bad, I'd think you'd also notice it at higher throttle settings, not just at idle.I'm not sure what roscoe's suggesting... if it was the neutral saftey switch out of adjustment, the motor wouldn't crank at all (would seem the same as if you were trying to start it in FWD). From what you wrote, I thought it was cranking OK, just wouldn't slow idle well, and would stall when you pop it into gear. If that's the case then I think your interlock would be OK (and would bet a loonie on the carbs).Good luck,Brent

[roscoe]

I hear what you are saying Brent, its a long shot, but I seen it once, on an early 90's ? 40hp Force. Somehow it was killing the motor. Your explanation seem to be the most likely.Why you getting so much smoke that you have to move away from the boat? Something isn't right.

[tfbrown1270]

Hi all, great ideas and I'll check em all out....Brent Im in Winnipeg too, Charleswood but the boats just north of Kenora...the problem is predominantly dieing at idle...I should mention a couple things though; I was out scooting along at max warp the other day when the engine slowed by itself (no throttle reduction), my tiny tach isn't installed yet so I don't know how much RPM it lost but it slowed to what felt like 3/4 throttle...I paniced thinking it was gonna blow up but it just chugged along like that till I experimented and squeezed the fuel primer bulb....it jumped back to full boogie tilt for a few sconds before settling back down to 3/4 boogie or so again...then it "magically" recovered and zoomed along once again at full RPM........related in some way!!???....and when I mention the smoke I didn;t mean to insinuate it was rediculous (though I did...doooh!)...just seems these Force's o/bs smoke alot and sitting at the dock trying to warm it up enough to idle away leaves us in the smoke screen....sorry if I mislead anyone....Thanks again....does this help the dianosis..I'm starting to think a new fuel pump is in order..or should I start elsewhere?Thanks againTim (Winnipeg & Kenora)

[Oldsaltydog]

Have you adjusted the carb idle air/fuel mixture screws? Do your choke plates move easily? Rebuilding the fuel pump may be a good idea. How is your inline filter? Do you have a water seperator filter to keep out the water -- can be quite a headache. How are your plugs? Do you have fresh gas? Good luck.

[BF]

Hey Tim, did you get it fixed? Yes, sounds like fuel pump to me after your additional info. Did you buy your tiny tach mailorder, or does someone in town sell 'em? Brent

[tfbrown1270]

Thanks for all the suggestions....I'll have a go at them...in answer to some questions..No I haven't messed with the mixture yet..a little unsure what to do there...Yes the chioke works great..inline filter and H2O seperator are not on my set-up..should I get one...whos?....The plugs are all oily (but new this year)...I replaced the head gasket and exhaust manifold gaskets (2) this spring after a minor overheat.....fresh gas...yup...goes through it like crazy never gets a chance to get old...I use regular grade ( 89.9 cents/liter in Kenora..ouch)....I am gonna change the fuel pump diaphram....seems Rond's Marine forgot to mention (or did I forget to ask!) that I needed a gasket too......as far as the Tiny Tach goes I got it from the distributor in southern Ontario (its on their website, I can't remeber where,,,they were great to deal with....gave me a great deal...I think it was abt $58 CDN plus shipping....I haven't installed it yet...too many other issues....like my fold down seat (turns into a sleeper)...collapsed cause it was rotted out....thats for another post though..Thanks..Tim