who makes force engines; any good?

[H2Oborn]

I'm looking at a 1986 Maxum, with a 125hp Force on it. Who makes this engine and are there any known reoccuring problems.<br /><br />Any comments would be appreciated.

 

[ODDD1]

Re: who makes force engines; any good?

Nobody makes this engine anymore...mercury stopped manufacturing these engines in 1999....lots of probs if maintenance is ignored... ok if taken care of religiously.

 

[H2Oborn]

Re: who makes force engines; any good?

Who made them in 1986?

 

[DJ]

Re: who makes force engines; any good?

H2O,<br /><br />They (Force) have had an interesting history.<br /><br />1. They started out as Chrysler Marine.<br />2. They became a part of US Marine (Bayliner)<br />3. They were bought by Brunswick-makers of Mercury.<br /><br />They are no longer made. <br /><br />They shared few parts with Merc. Some of the latter models had Merc. lower units and electronics.<br /><br />Opinions vary widely as to their reputation. Some thought they were Ok for the price, others dispised them.<br /><br />The Force line was marketed as an inexpensive (relative to others) entry level engine to many novice boaters. I'm sure SOME of the bad reputation they have today is due to the owners lack of understanding and/or maintenance.<br /><br />If you are very handy and learn their quirks-they're serviceable.<br /><br />Do a serch on this board and you will come up with alot of threads regarding this brand.<br /><br />Ther higher hp. engines in the line were on the low side of their rated horsepower.

 

[H2Oborn]

Re: who makes force engines; any good?

I'm sorry, I mean 1989.

 

[DJ]

Re: who makes force engines; any good?

H2O,<br /><br />I believe 89 was still US Marine.<br /><br />If it was Merc. It would have been very early in their acquisition and NO Merc. parts would have been on them.

 

[C17LoadSmasher]

Re: who makes force engines; any good?

I had an 87 Force 125.... and it was US Marine that made it. Never had any real problems with it. Changed out rectifier and other than an idle problem I never took the time to diagnose, it worked like a champ. Oddly enough I have had more problems with a 2001 Mercruiser. Go figure.

 

[bruoff]

Re: who makes force engines; any good?

Hey, djohns: I believe they were West Bends<br />before they were Chryslers. They are the same company that made pressure cookers

 

[DJ]

Re: who makes force engines; any good?

Tarpon, could have been! It's a little fuzzy back that far.

 

[MIKE F]

Re: who makes force engines; any good?

I'm going along, with Tarpon Bob. I believe Chrysler, bought out West Bend (their outboards).If I'm not mistaken, when they came out, with their 105HP(always thought of a refrigerator when I saw the size of them)it was the highest HP O/B out there.I wish I wasn't so old, that I can remember things, that far back.

 

[ODDD1]

Re: who makes force engines; any good?

short course on the history...location, Hartford wisconsin....the plant built farm implements around the turn of the century...Kissel car Co. into the late '20s..water witch outboard after that, in early '50s became West Bend Co. [outboards] in [I think] 1963 sold to chrysler [chrysler outboards] which was bought by U.S. Marine in 1984, renamed the motors Force [the very first ones said 'Chrysler by Force'] they were built in Hartford until US Marine was bought by Brunswick and they consolidated the outboard manufacturing by shutting down the plant in hartford and moving outboards up to Fond du lac in 1992...a sad day in my life, I liked those guys. was always a sucker for an under dog, LOL Merc made them with various changes until 1999, when production stopped.

 

[DJ]

Re: who makes force engines; any good?

ODDD1, <br /><br />Thanks. I think the first "Merc." produced big four was a 120, not a 125. like US Marine rated it. That may help our friend date his engine.<br /><br />Am I right?

 

[ODDD1]

Re: who makes force engines; any good?

Yes, the merc built were 120's....125's built from 1984 to 1990....second to last digit in model number will give year made...

 

[joeb]

Re: who makes force engines; any good?

hey h2o i have a force 125 88 model . i have never had a single problem with my motor, i bought mine in 1991 from a boat shop in the keys,and still have it. this motor is just like the chrylers 130 hp. motor made in 1972. The only difference is the force is electronic . the old 130's had the distributers on them. the reason i know this is because i had a 130, in 1991(20years later) this motor needed to be rebuilt,found this force motor and took the force powerhead and bolted it on my chrylers,were it still runs got all the parts if you need any. help clean out my garage.