No Charge 85hp 1989 force

[Jeffreyi]

A few weeks ago I brought my boat in to the shop for some basic service which was a) lube the lower b) install a new prop c) install gas/water separator...nothing else. When I picked up the boat it was lowered into the water and it would not start. The tech did some checking and it turned out that I was not getting a spark. He told me that he never even took the cowling off the engine since he had seen me drive it into the slip. I left it there. They told me that they had little experience with the Force but they would check it out.
A week later I called them and they said that they working on it but hadn't solved the problem yet. I brought them a few posts from this site and my Clymer Manual. Anyway they finally "fixed" it. The tech told me that the magnets had slipped off of the flywheel and he had to re-attach it. Great...I picked the the boat ($360 poorer) and went fishing. Lots of starts and turn off all afternoon. Today when I got in the boat dead battery. Charged battery for four hours. Ran for 5 minutes. Dead battery. (Battery is new) Please help.

Thanks.

 

[steelespike]

Re: No Charge 85hp 1989 force

Not unusual for magnets to get loose.
Battery would need to charge overnight if dead.Check the voltage across the battery with motor at 1500 to 2,000 rpm should be about 14 to 15volts.
Standing voltage would be at least 12.50 to 13+.Something may be killing the battery.Sometimes in reduced light you may see a little spark as you make and brake contact with the battery cable.Be careful as this spark could ignite hydrogen from the battery.Sometimes you can insert a bulb between the cable and battery and it will glow if there is something drawing on the battery.You'll need subdued light to see the bulb.
Pull fuses until the load stops.Prime suspect is the bilge pump circuit and any after market accessories.

 

[Jeffreyi]

Re: No Charge 85hp 1989 force

Thanks. I'm not sure I understand. My battery was fully charged. I stared my engine and ran it for 5 minutes and then tried to restart it, right then and there, and there was not enough juice to start it. (My battery was charged because the charger said it was) Is that how you read my post?

Also, please clarify the bulb test that you suggested.

Thanks again.

 

[steelespike]

Re: No Charge 85hp 1989 force

Assuming the battery was truly fully charged it would be impossible for it to be dead in 5 minutes without smoke happening somewhere.
Charge it again and measure the voltage after resting 30 minutes or so.Should be 13+ volts or darn close to that on a new battery.
The bulb is used between the ground cable and the battery negative terminal.You'll need a bulb socket with a couple of wires.Unhook the neg. cable and attach the wires one to the battery negative one to the ground cable.If something is drawing on the battery the bulb will light ,though very dimly,.thus the need for subdued light.I don't think you need to do this test.
I'm wondering if the battery was really dead.This would explain the quick charge time.Perhaps you have a starter problem.For various reasons it might work one time and fail the next.
Be sure all connections are clean and tight.Especially the heavy ground and positive cables. Positive from battery to solinoid and solinoid to starter.
Try again.Charge the battery.Check its voltage.Try to start the boat.
Let her run.Check the voltage should be around 14 at 1500 to 2,000 rpm.Shut off and try again.If she cranks real slow or refuses to crank.Check the voltage again.Should be below 12 volts if it won't crank.
If battery checks and connections are good and starter can't turn it over
starter may need a rebuild.

 

[Jeffreyi]

Re: No Charge 85hp 1989 force

Thanks for the info.

I took your advice and charged it overnight. The voltage was 14.7. It seems, as you suggested, that the battery was not fully charged. You saved me a lot time now and in the future!

Thanks again.