'94 FORCE 120 CUTSOUT WHEN PUT IN GEAR

[DSN14004]

WHEN I PUT MY MOTOR IN GEAR IT QUITS IF I START IT IN GEAR IT GOES FINE IT DOSN'T MATTER IF IT IS HOT, COLD, FORWARD OR REVERSE IT QUITS. IT ALSO FOULS PLUGS EVERY OTHER DAY I HAVE TO CLEAN THEM. AND EVERY TANK OF GAS OR TWO I REPLACE THEM. THE DEALER SAID I WAS USING TOO MUCH OIL BUT I'VE LEANED IT OUT TO ABOUT 85:1 AND AM WORRIED THAT IT DOSN'T HAVE ENOUGH OIL NOW. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT SOME OF THEESE MOTORS HAVE WEAK SPOTS IN THE IGNITION, AND THAT THEY HAVE A CONTROL BOX THAT IS SUPPOSED TO CUT THE IGNITION TEMPORIARILY WHEN YOU PUT IT IN GEAR THAT COULD BE STICKING AND CUTTING IT FOR TOO LONG. ONCE IT QUITS I JUST HIT THE STARTER WITH IT IN GEAR AND IT STARTS AND RUNS JUST FINE UNTIL I GO INTO NEUTRAL THEN TRY TO PUT IT BACK IN GEAR. ANYONE GOT ANY SUGGESTIONS???? I REALY DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO PAY A SHOP DIAGNOSTIC RATES TO JUST START GEUSSING AND CHANGING PARTS.

 

[roscoe]

Re: '94 FORCE 120 CUTSOUT WHEN PUT IN GEAR

Why it cut out: I would look at the neutral safety switch. If you have Commander 2000 or 3000 series controls, the switch is found in the controls. If you have some other controls, then the switch should be on the throttle cam, located on the engine. This is supposed to prevent the engine from being started in gear.<br /><br />I am assuming you have the correct plugs. Champion L76V.<br /><br />These motors do run dirty, but not as badly as you indicate. <br /><br />What do the plugs look like when you are replacing them? <br /><br />When was the last time you decarbed the motor?<br />Sounds like the fuel mixture is not burning complete enough, which could be caused by a low compression situation. Decarbing should clean out your cylinders and free up the rings, giving you better compression, and burning the fuel more completely. Resulting in more power and less fouling.<br /><br />Decarbing should be done every 60 hours, more often if using engine for extended periods at low rpm's.<br /><br />I decarb more often because I wish to avoid the low compression, stuck rings, broken rings, and shredded piston and cylinder walls that could result.<br /><br />Decarb Process:<br />Buy at least 2 cans of decarb. Some people use one can per cylinder.<br /><br />Run engine at fast idle, with engine running<br />spray liberal amount into each carb,<br />spray some more, spray a larger amount into carbs until engine chokes out and stops,<br />remove spark plugs and spray decarb into each cylinder, install the spark plugs, let it soak for 1 to 12 hours. <br />Start the engine and run at medium throttle, or if at the lake, run it at full throttle. It won't hurt to spray some more through the carbs. Run it for atleast 10 minutes to flush the crud out of your engine.<br /><br />Then use a product like Seafoam fuel additive, or similar Mercury/Force product as a preventative maintenance measure. I use it in every gallon of gas that goes thru my Force.<br /><br />I would also go back to the recommended 50:1 oil mixture, 2.5 ounces per gallon of gas.<br /><br />Let us know how it works out.