force 50 cooling issue

[kb3ayo]

I suspected I had cooling issues with it when I couldn't get any spray running in a can with water above intak holes. I pulled and replaced the rusted thermostat and after reading some posts filled the can to the top afterwhich it seemed to work fine. Sprayed pretty good and temp stayed at 120 using meat thermometer. I took it out and a couple minutes into the run it started making noises and seized up. I pulled the head and the bottom piston has a hole in it. I pulled the lower unit to checked the impeller which I was told had just been replaced. It looked fine but the metal housing has grooves in it. I'm not sure if this is enough to cause the overheating and how can I tell now if its worth replacing pistons and trying again. any susgestions

 

[wickware]

Re: force 50 cooling issue

What?s the Year or Approx Hours? Do you feel the lack of cooling would cause a hole vs timing or etc? Can you tell if the hole was burned or broken? Please post a pic. In my opinion, lack of cooling would cause it to lock-up/seize vs a hole (opinions???). Rebuilding in my opinion would depend on the Year, Personally Known Past History/Hours and Damages (opinions ???) . Good Luck! JOW

 

[kb3ayo]

Re: force 50 cooling issue

It's an 89 that I just purchased used off ebay. I was told the impeller and head gasget had both been changed and they started and ran it for me with the garden hose method. Of course this is a pressurized test not a suction one which I had a bad feeling about. I did a compression check when I suspected cooling problems and it about 120-130 for each cynlinder. It idled good in the yard test and when I took it out it had plenty of power but after a couple minutes a knocking noise developed and in 5 seconds it seized. So Pretty sure it was overheated-a liitle smoke after removing cowling.

 

[wickware]

Re: force 50 cooling issue

I?m not an ebay shopper and probably w/n be on mechanical items. Is shopping on ebay an "As Is Deal"? The TX Att. General?s Office Pointed me to ?An As Is Sale? must have a certain amount of quality vs someone dumping on you. Have you discussed this matter with the other individual?

JOW

 

[Desertsky]

Re: force 50 cooling issue

It's an 89 that I just purchased used off ebay. I was told the impeller and head gasget had both been changed and they started and ran it for me with the garden hose method. Of course this is a pressurized test not a suction one which I had a bad feeling about. I did a compression check when I suspected cooling problems and it about 120-130 for each cynlinder. It idled good in the yard test and when I took it out it had plenty of power but after a couple minutes a knocking noise developed and in 5 seconds it seized. So Pretty sure it was overheated-a liitle smoke after removing cowling.

A hole in the piston is almost always due to detonation and/or lean running. Unfortunately, when that happens, it also sprays metal all through the lower end. A complete tear down is needed to see if it can be repaired.