Locate year of engine? Force 50 (and best place to get a service manual (cheap)

[crazyone]

Hey all,

I just picked up a Harris pontoon(1998ish) with force 50 on it. It does a half crank and stops, pull plugs it spins freely. Pull cyl 2 plug it spins over, plug both on half crank and starter can't over power it. I know it's timing related (or a valve not opening) but if you all could help me figure out what year it is, and also a good place to find a manual for it, you would be rockstars (soon as a buddy returns my compression gauge I'll check that)
Thanks in advance
Brandon

 

[racerone]

It is NOT a valve issue.------Load test the battery.-----Take starter apart for inspection.-----Drain / change gear oil.-----Install new water pump impeller before your first expedition.

 

[crazyone]

It is NOT a valve issue.------Load test the battery.-----Take starter apart for inspection.-----Drain / change gear oil.-----Install new water pump impeller before your first expedition.

It has a good BIG marine battery out of my tailgate bus, but also put jumpers between my truck and it. It's not the battery.

Certainly could be a weak starter. But it spins both cylinders with plugs in and coils disconnected so I doubt that is it.

It'll get all the fluids changed before it goes anywhere. Gear oil looked great as did even the trim fluids.

Thanks for your reply
Brandon

 

[racerone]

Check flywheel key.

 

[Jiggz]

Try cleaning the battery cables and most especially the ground connection to the engine block. DO NOT JUST CLEAN THEM INSTALLED. REMOVE AND CLEAN TO A SHINE AND THEN RECONNECT. If this does not solve the weak cranking, then disassemble starter and clean the commutator and check brushes for minimum length. Report compression numbers as soon as you get it.

 

[crazyone]

Thank you all!! Still would love help to identify the year, and find a service manual

Brandon

 

[topgun3690]

Thank you all!! Still would love help to identify the year, and find a service manual

Brandon

Post a pic of the engine ID tag.....should be on there somewhere......and pics of the motor.

 

[crazyone]

Compression both cylinders 105 each. Literally dead on eaxhpt

Post a pic of the engine ID tag.....should be on there somewhere......and pics of the motor.

Super idiot (was under some goo haha! 1997 50 ELPT

Compression test 105ish on both

Brandon

 

[topgun3690]

Look on ebay for a factory manual.....

 

[crazyone]

Look on ebay for a factory manual.....

Never would have the of that!!!! Thx!! (Yes that is sarcasm). Was hoping there was a pdf link available vs paying for a 20+ year old manual.

Thanks for your reply
B

 

[topgun3690]

Never would have the of that!!!! Thx!! (Yes that is sarcasm). Was hoping there was a pdf link available vs paying for a 20+ year old manual.

Thanks for your reply
B

The original 20+ year old factory manuals were made by the folks who made the engine and are the best there is.....(No sarcasm).

 

[jbcurt00]

Never would have the of that!!!! Thx!! (Yes that is sarcasm). Was hoping there was a pdf link available vs paying for a 20+ year old manual.

Thanks for your reply
B

Manuals are copyrighted, many free sites shutdown, many that remain are suspected phishing sites.

Free links to copyrighted material is prohibited
Better off w a factory manual.

>$2K for boat & motor
$100 factory seems like a good, cheap investment

 

[topgun3690]

I know it's timing related (or a valve not opening)

Btw.....if you believe these old 2-stroke motors have valves that don't open then you really do need the best manual you can get......

 

[crazyone]

Try cleaning the battery cables and most especially the ground connection to the engine block. DO NOT JUST CLEAN THEM INSTALLED. REMOVE AND CLEAN TO A SHINE AND THEN RECONNECT. If this does not solve the weak cranking, then disassemble starter and clean the commutator and check brushes for minimum length. Report compression numbers as soon as you get it.

Thank you, Replaced starter yesterday and boom it cranks.

Now to find a seal/rebuild kit for the leaking carb.

Thank you all for the responses!
Brandon

 

[crazyone]

Btw.....if you believe these old 2-stroke motors have valves that don't open then you really do need the best manual you can get......

Yep I am an idiot forgot it is a two stroke, oddly enough I was looking to check the oil top when I first got it. Would have thought I would have put 2 and 2 together. (May have had a few beers)