Are Force OBs as good as others?

[guy48065]

This might be a touchy question...
I was telling my brother-in-law on a recent fishing trip that I had brought home a near mint Force 5hp for $50 from a flea market and he replied he wouldn't take one for free.
He's not usually prone to deflate egos so I'm wondering if his opinion has any real-world basis?
Other than the plastic upper AND lower cowls and prop this thing looks as well-made as any other I've tinkered with.

What's the hive say about Force quality & reliability?

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Big problem is, they've been outa business for many years,..... No oem parts,.....

 

[alldodge]

^^Agree
but will add, Force like Chrysler (same motor) are still running today. If taken care of it will need next to no repairs other then maintenance items. Maintenance items can still be obtained

 

[topgun3690]

Have owned my Chrysler since new (1978). In that time have rebuilt the powerhead and LU.....so far have been able to find every part needed for repairs. You are on your own with these old motors.....most shops will not even look at one, but that is pretty much the case with any old 2-stroke motor.

 

[matt167]

As good as an old Johnson or a Merc if you can turn a wrench. They are old designs dating to the late 50s but. If you can do it yourself it’ll run forever

 

[guy48065]

This one is a 1990 so it's Mercury property. I don't know if I've ever read when Mercury took over force if they bought the tooling. Does this have Chrysler or Mercury parts in it?

 

[matt167]

when Brunswick bought Chrysler they branded them Force. Eventually they started branding them Force by Mercury in the 90s. Any OEM parts will be branded Mercury but are Force specific except some Mercury gear cases were adapted in the late years right before the end.

 

[briangcc]

Junk. Shear utter junk. You couldn't give one to me.

If it says Force by Mercury, it's got Merc parts. Still junk.

 

[flyingscott]

when Brunswick bought Chrysler they branded them Force. Eventually they started branding them Force by Mercury in the 90s. Any OEM parts will be branded Mercury but are Force specific except some Mercury gear cases were adapted in the late years right before the end.

That is not what happend at all. U.S. MARINE bought Chrysler and changed the name to force in the late 70s early 80s. Brunswick bought US marine in the early 90s and kept the name.

 

[flyingscott]

Junk. Shear utter junk. You couldn't give one to me.

If it says Force by Mercury, it's got Merc parts. Still junk.

You have no clue

 

[flyingscott]

This one is a 1990 so it's Mercury property. I don't know if I've ever read when Mercury took over force if they bought the tooling. Does this have Chrysler or Mercury parts in it?

That is mainly the Chrysler motor. It's as good as anybody else's just an older design. The problem is that Mercury owned them and Mercury sucks at carrying parts. Pretty sure that is the motor Mercury jacked the impeller price up to $180 for a piece of rubber. So evaluate it carefully before you spend any money on it.

 

[matt167]

That is not what happend at all. U.S. MARINE bought Chrysler and changed the name to force in the late 70s early 80s. Brunswick bought US marine in the early 90s and kept the name.

Thanks for correcting me. I knew it was US marine but memory was foggy

 

[flyingscott]

And as far as people thinking the Chrysler/Force outboards were junk. Remember this, At the time Chrysler sold the outboard division, it was the only profitable division of Chrysler. People were buying outboards from the showroom instead of their Cars.

 

[topgun3690]

Having owned Chrysler outboards most of my life I have heard it all….. Haters gonna Hate!

 

[matt167]

And as far as people thinking the Chrysler/Force outboards were junk. Remember this, At the time Chrysler sold the outboard division, it was the only profitable division of Chrysler. People were buying outboards from the showroom instead of their Cars.

Yup. Until Lee Iacocca re structured the company giving us Omnis, Horizons and K cars and cancelled the marine division

 

[flyingscott]

Yup. Until Lee Iacocca re structured the company giving us Omnis, Horizons and K cars and cancelled the marine division

He did not cancel it he sold it. The outboard division was the only profitable part of Chrysler. People forget Chrysler was for all intents and purposes bankrupt.

 

[matt167]

He did not cancel it he sold it. The outboard division was the only profitable part of Chrysler. People forget Chrysler was for all intents and purposes bankrupt.

Yes. I meant he sold it. He used the funding from the sale. for capital to save the company. I forget what brand of cars he imported at first but French possibly. They became the Horizon and Omni. It’s actually a good read what he did. I read the article that Allpar has on his success a few years ago. It He turned it around quick enough to buy AMC for the Jeep brand in 87.

 

[southkogs]

Easy does it y'all ... the question was about Force outboards.

 

[racerone]

The FORCE outboards are simple and reliable.----One of the issues is that folks today have less mechanical aptitude.-----Outboards are neglected and dubbed as " JUNK " when simple things are overlooked.-----Look after a FORCE and it will run well and last.

 

[guy48065]

I'm happy to hear it's a decent product. I have 3 Eska outboards so I know a little about unreliable junk.
This Force cost me $50 and it started right up in the tank. Quit right away too--PO had started something in the carb & threw it back together finger-tight. Put a carb kit in it and it's running fine. I want to keep it because it's the lightest 5hp I have with tiller throttle. I like light