scottmm73
Petty Officer 1st Class
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2012
- Messages
- 261
Gentlemen,
I've been working on my 89 Force 85 HP (it's attached to a 89 Maxum 1700 MA). Initially running on the muffs it seemed to purr (I'm obviously wrong in this regard as you will see later). I decided to take it to the lake and do initial tests on the boat and motor before I took my family out. The hull is sound, after some minor repairs, however the engine would not stay running while dropped in the lake. After killing the battery trying to get it started, my father in law and I decided to take it home and do some trouble shooting. I did some work on the carbs and noticed that the #3 carb was leaking with pressure from the bulb. I ordered a carb rebuild kit and in the mean time I decided to do a mini-tune-up. First I checked compression, the #1 and #2 both sported 120 psi, but the #3 would not hold above 25 psi. After inspecting the spark plugs, I noticed on the #3 spark plug that there is a groove beside the electrode (picture attached; groove is at the 6 o'clock position on the #3 spark plug; #1 on left #3 on right). Viewing the top of the piston through the spark plug hole, I noticed a lot of fouling (carbon; pic kinda fuzzy) on the piston. This makes me hope that it is just a blown head gasket. As you can see in the pic the #3 spark plug appears steam cleaned compared to the other two, another sign the head gasket is blown. Also around the mating surfaces of the head and the block some corrosion appears to be taking hold. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it is nothing more severe. I know some people recommend using TCW-3 in the cylinder and rechecking compression (see if its a stuck ring). As a novice and a lack of a nearby marina, what is TCW-3 and can you use a substitute?
I also decided to check spark, the first coil produced a good spark, however when attempting to check the second the boat decided to take a nap. I got nothing from the ignition. I began checking wires with a volt meter and I received 12.2 volts up to the terminal block. I then checked the B term (Battery) on the ignition switch and I only got 1.4 volts. This appears to be a ground/feeder fault in the wire somewhere. Correct? My question is this. Where does the wire come off the terminal block and feed into the ignition switch? The B term has a red wire but the term block doesn't have a red wire leaving it. I'm slightly confused.
Summary, for those who haven't read above:
Q1 What is TCW-3 and can you use a substitute?
Q2 Where does the wire come off the terminal block and feed into the ignition switch? The B term has a red wire but the term block doesn't have a red wire leaving it. I'm slightly confused.
I've been working on my 89 Force 85 HP (it's attached to a 89 Maxum 1700 MA). Initially running on the muffs it seemed to purr (I'm obviously wrong in this regard as you will see later). I decided to take it to the lake and do initial tests on the boat and motor before I took my family out. The hull is sound, after some minor repairs, however the engine would not stay running while dropped in the lake. After killing the battery trying to get it started, my father in law and I decided to take it home and do some trouble shooting. I did some work on the carbs and noticed that the #3 carb was leaking with pressure from the bulb. I ordered a carb rebuild kit and in the mean time I decided to do a mini-tune-up. First I checked compression, the #1 and #2 both sported 120 psi, but the #3 would not hold above 25 psi. After inspecting the spark plugs, I noticed on the #3 spark plug that there is a groove beside the electrode (picture attached; groove is at the 6 o'clock position on the #3 spark plug; #1 on left #3 on right). Viewing the top of the piston through the spark plug hole, I noticed a lot of fouling (carbon; pic kinda fuzzy) on the piston. This makes me hope that it is just a blown head gasket. As you can see in the pic the #3 spark plug appears steam cleaned compared to the other two, another sign the head gasket is blown. Also around the mating surfaces of the head and the block some corrosion appears to be taking hold. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it is nothing more severe. I know some people recommend using TCW-3 in the cylinder and rechecking compression (see if its a stuck ring). As a novice and a lack of a nearby marina, what is TCW-3 and can you use a substitute?
I also decided to check spark, the first coil produced a good spark, however when attempting to check the second the boat decided to take a nap. I got nothing from the ignition. I began checking wires with a volt meter and I received 12.2 volts up to the terminal block. I then checked the B term (Battery) on the ignition switch and I only got 1.4 volts. This appears to be a ground/feeder fault in the wire somewhere. Correct? My question is this. Where does the wire come off the terminal block and feed into the ignition switch? The B term has a red wire but the term block doesn't have a red wire leaving it. I'm slightly confused.
Summary, for those who haven't read above:
Q1 What is TCW-3 and can you use a substitute?
Q2 Where does the wire come off the terminal block and feed into the ignition switch? The B term has a red wire but the term block doesn't have a red wire leaving it. I'm slightly confused.
