Poppet valve

78scout

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Jan 5, 2024
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I have a 120hp 97mercury force outboard on a 18ft ranger bass boat. Kinda new to outboards, but mechanically inclined. After I start the motor, it seems like its taking a while for it to start peeing. I changed thermostat and impellar when I bought the boat. I was wondering if there is a poppet valve on this motor. If there is, do you think that could be the issue? Thanks to anyone that has some input
 

dingbat

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Nov 20, 2001
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16,074
I have a 120hp 97mercury force outboard on a 18ft ranger bass boat. Kinda new to outboards, but mechanically inclined. After I start the motor, it seems like its taking a while for it to start peeing. I changed thermostat and impellar when I bought the boat. I was wondering if there is a poppet valve on this motor. If there is, do you think that could be the issue? Thanks to anyone that has some input
 

topgun3690

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May 7, 2019
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I was wondering if there is a poppet valve on this motor. If there is, do you think that could be the issue?
Don't believe your motor has one, so it's not the issue. You could remove the tell tale hose and check it for debris, along with the 2 fittings it attaches to. I'm not 100% sure but I believe the thermostat has to open before the tell tale pisses. On a cold day that could take a little while.......
 

78scout

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Thank you for taking your time to give me that info. I will start with the tell tale and the fittings for sure. I didn't think there was a poppet valve.
 

Nordin

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Jun 12, 2010
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I think the poppet valve disappeared on the 3 and 4 cylinder Chrysler engineered block in mid 80.es.
The engines I have worked with Chryslers up until 1977 and then Force from 1987 and up the Chryslers had poppet valve but not the Forces.
Your engine is a late 90.es and do not have the valve.
Maybe you can see a hole in the block casting in the lower part of the exhaust side where the poppet valve should have been mounted.
 

The Force power

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Feb 3, 2019
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According "the big book" the 85 hp had it up to '89 early B models & the 125 hp up to '88 B models
The port position, to attach a tell tail or temp. sensor is prior to the thermostat for those
 

topgun3690

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My original PH (1978) had a poppet......and the rebuilt PH from a 1988 Force had one.....
 

Nordin

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Jun 12, 2010
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Seems to bee different years when the poppet valve disappeared!
My youngest son had a 85Hp 1988 and it did not have the valve.
I have one 120Hp 1991 and one 125Hp 1989 and none of those have the poppet valve.
Have stripped out some blown blocks (3 cylinders 85-90Hp) that have been out of order to rebuilt and none of those have had the poppet valve.
 

The Force power

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Feb 3, 2019
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2,335
Seems to bee different years when the poppet valve disappeared!
My youngest son had a 85Hp 1988 and it did not have the valve.
I have one 120Hp 1991 and one 125Hp 1989 and none of those have the poppet valve.
Have stripped out some blown blocks (3 cylinders 85-90Hp) that have been out of order to rebuilt and none of those have had the poppet valve.

Maybe they made a printing mistake with the 85HP
 
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