Need help with a hard starting 1989 force 125

[mikefl460]

Hello I have a 1989 force 125 with 2 problems, 1st when I go to start it for the first time after sitting its real slow turning over. If I remove one spark plug and turn it over it starts as it should, I let it run for a min then shut it down re install the plug and normally I can get it to start. It acts like it has to much compression? I checked the compression in all 4 cyl and all read 125 which I think is good. Can I do anything to solve the problem of having to remove the one spark plug to get it to turn over initially? My 2nd problem is 2 out of the 4 times ive taken the boat out the fuel system has seemed to get air or vapor locked and stopped running...to solve this problem I removed the fuel filter/water seperator emptied it out and re primed the fuel system and it started right up. I need to figure these 2 problems out any help is appriciated
thanks mike

 

[steveclv]

Re: Need help with a hard starting 1989 force 125

That's typical of a worn out starter - often caused by trying to run the starter for more than 20 seconds at a time with 3 minutes between attempts.

That's assuming that the battery is good and the connections are clean. I also think that the standard power cable from Solenoid to Starter is a little thin (8ga) - I replaced mine with a 2ga cable from Walmart.

I'm having a similar running problem - thinking it might be something in the tank that clogs as the pipe as it restarts straight away after the event.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Need help with a hard starting 1989 force 125

#1 Rebuild the starter.Load test the battery.Make sure the battery connections are tight.
#2 The vent for the tank might be clogged.The pick-up in the tank might have debris clogging it.
Rebuild the pump,replace the hoses from the tank(squeezie too) to the carb. Any inline connectors ,remove.Clean the carbs.J

 

[mikefl460]

Re: Need help with a hard starting 1989 force 125

Ok both batteries check out good, and all conection points are good and clean. Is there any way to test the starter to know for sure?
Thanks mike

 

[steveclv]

Re: Need help with a hard starting 1989 force 125

No, fraid not

It fails under load (starting the engine) and it will spin freely if tested off the engine.

When mine started to fail it it started to smoke after turning the engine for about 10 seconds and got hot so I suppose you could disable the engine from starting and see if you can get 15 seconds of starting from it and watch for smoke and overheating.

However a reconditioned one can be picked up on eBay for $50 or so (got mine for $17 in an auction style bid) so grab a spare and maybe rebuild your old one as a spare.