50 hp Force Outboard Won't Start

[ctlincoln]

Hi all,<br /><br />I have come for major help as you can tell by my name. I just got a decent boat package for a good price knowing there were problems with the motor. <br /><br />History of boat:<br />I got the boat from my friend who said the motor was rebuilt but some replaced wires were laid over the cylinder wall and while he was enjoying his nice running outboard these poorly replaced wires melted. He replaced the wires but boat hasn't ran since.<br /><br />Troubleshooting:<br />I was an electronic technician while in the air force and figured if it was only a wiring problem that I could figure it out with the manual he threw in with the boat. Upon inspecting his replaced wiring I found no problems. The wires that melted went to a start switch relay that keeps the boat from starting while not in neutal.<br /><br />Next I pulled out one spark plug to see if there was any spark which there was on both. Now is where I get lost. I have tried starting the boat after seeing another post about a choke operation while key is pressed. Read that and just had to try it. Wow! It really works. Anyway I did manage to get a couple of nice backfires while attempting this method. (Wife is cleaning underwear now and ear is still ringing). This is where I need advice. I know the engine is getting fuel, spark appears to be good, but don't know which step to take next. Was thinking about the local marina but money is tight and like to figure out things myself. <br /><br />Also, I'm not sure what year the motor is but the manual is for 1984 - 1999 and unfortunately those serial and model numbers don't even have a use on the internet that I know of yet. (should have gotten a merc! <br /><br />Please Help!

 

[eurolarva]

Re: 50 hp Force Outboard Won't Start

Welcome to Iboats outboard_motor_illiterate. I am not the Guru you are looking for but I have read a lot of posts and have been helped here with my Chrysler. <br /><br />To start prime bulb till hard. Advance throttle as far forward as it will go while in nuetral. Make sure motor is in tank of water or hooked to muffs with water flowing. While turning key to start press in key to engage choke. Release choke after motor starts. If it does not, check primer bulb. It should stay hard. Do not run starter more than 5 seconds. It may take three or four times doing this to get it started. Do not attempt starting without water on lower unit or you can burn out the water pump<br /><br />If it does not start might want to do a search under Force carburator rebuild and adjustments and fuel pump rebuilds. Might not hurt to get a new set of plugs. Mine is chrysler and am worried to give more info because of differences in motors. Keep the thread alive. If it scrolls off the page kick it back to the top and someone will see it and help<br /><br />Good luck

 

[ctlincoln]

Re: 50 hp Force Outboard Won't Start

Eurolarva,<br /><br />Thanks for the tips but I have done everything you have said with exception to the carb. Don't want to go down that road yet. I will buy some new spark plugs. Mine are a little black and according to the manual that could mean fouled plugs.<br /><br />Thanks!

 

[eurolarva]

Re: 50 hp Force Outboard Won't Start

The carb kit is about 12 dollars from NAPA. The rebuild kit comes with good instructions and blow ups of three different carbs. You just match your carb to one of the pictures in the carb kit and do the rebuild. There should be a idle adjust screw on the carb. Try turning this screw clocwise as far as it will go counting the turns as you do so. (When the screw is fully seated you will feel resistance. Do not torque) Turn screw back same amount of turns and post here what you found. Manual says it should be about 1 full turn.<br /><br />If this motor sat along time with gas in the carb and fuel pump you could have gumming and varnish. The idle passages could be blocked and you are not getting gas for startup and idle.<br /><br />Rebuild for fuel pump is really easy. The daiphram and gasket cost about 9 bucks and takes about an hour.

 

[catfish1]

Re: 50 hp Force Outboard Won't Start

eurolarva is right, it sounds like you are getting fuel, but not enough. the carb on that is pretty simple to take off, clean & rebuild. do yourself a favor and rebuild that carb, or just buy a new one for $129 bucks. if you want to confirm this starting problem try getting a squirt bottle and shooting some premix gas down the carb throat. <br />also, make sure the choke butterfly is closing when you push the key in, if you get it to fire and it tries to die, choke it again real fast. dont rev the engine out of water! the two cyl single carb motors need backpressure on the exhaust, it will over-rev even after you have let off the throttle. also if your doing any adjustments, do them at the lake with the motor in the water.

 

[ctlincoln]

Re: 50 hp Force Outboard Won't Start

Ok all, shame on me. I relized that the problem is I'm only getting spark from one of the coils. With the help of a great friend that works on outboards on the side we have determined the problem to be the cd ignition box. Only problem is I'm not exactly sure what year the motor is and where the best place to buy this unit would be. The serial number is 1298 and model is 507y8d. I believe the motor to be a 1988 but wanted to be sure before ordering the wrong part. If my research is correct the part number is a 116-8301 which seems to be going for about $170. I need your savy experience here fellow boaters please help. Is my outboard a 1988 and is this the correct replacement part number? Any good places to order one cheap?<br /><br />Thanks all!!