potential serious problem!!

[Silvertip]

That buzzing was the warning horn telling you 1) the engine was overheating, 2) Low oil, or 3) no oil. Ignore #2 and #3 if this is not an oil injected engine. If its not oil injected, I hope you were using a 50:1 premix. If neither of the above is true, its no wonder the warning horn went off. If the warning horn was a steady buzz, that's the overheat warning. Since you don't know the history of the engine, you need to replace the water pump impeller, and while you are doing that, replace the thermostat. The scenario you described sounds like a stuck thermostat but a bad impeller will not provide sufficient water flow to properly cool the engine at higher speeds. Ignoring the problem can toast the engine. You are looking at about $40 bucks worth of parts -- hardly worth ruining an engine over. If you plan to work on it yourself, buy a service manual.

 

[Joenational]

potential serious problem!!

Well guys today was my first time out ever on my first boat, what an even it was . at first it didn't want to start so i had to ask for some help from the guys that run the dock, which it was what i figured not enough gas getting to the motor. Then when we finally get it out onto the open water and start giving it throttle i hear this loud buzzing. it is a 1988 17' capri cuddy with an 85hp force outboard. Now we were roaming around the other docks to get the lay of the land and find the nearest gas station but it was closed so we just conintued from that point to go to open water and open her up a little bit. My question is what was that buzzing, it was a very loud buzzing coming from underneath the dashboard that would stay for a few minutes then go away and then come back on. let me just give you the sceniro, the boat only had roughly 5 gallons of gas in it and didn't start buzzing till we were about half throttle. could the problem be:<br /><br />1) motor was overheating even though there was no sign of it overheating other then the buzzing<br /><br />2) due to only 5 gallons of gas in it even though the gauge was showing close to half tank (the tank is a 21 gallon tank)<br /><br />any help is greatly appreciated sorry if it is a litte long.

 

[Joenational]

Re: potential serious problem!!

Yes after i posted this i was doing some searching and i think the problem is a bad impeller. the buzzing was a steady buzzing that would go away but come back on. I bought the boat at a dealer and it was 140 across all cylinders so i know the motor is a good motor. what I dont know is when the last time anything was changed. also i am running a 50:1 mix. I am almost positive it isn't oil injected. where can I find the parts i need. thanks for the info.

 

[roscoe]

Re: potential serious problem!!

Yes, sounds like you need a whole new water pump, then you will know it is good and can just plan on replacing the impeller in 3 years.<br /><br /> Use premixxed fuel, your motor is not oil injected.

 

[Joenational]

Re: potential serious problem!!

Thanks for the info guys, well since i have never owned a boat before let alone done any work on one i will have to have somebody do it. i did not do the cylinder test myself but i did see the paper work on it.

 

[jasonbailey]

Re: potential serious problem!!

I just bought an impeller kit for my old 1984 Chrylser, it was not $40.00 it is now $74.80. Last one I bought 2 seasons ago was $38.00. If the impeller and new thermostat don't fix the overheat problem then you most likely have a blown head gasket. You said you had good compression on all cylinders, did you do the test?

 

[jasonbailey]

Re: potential serious problem!!

Oh I forgot to tell you, I get all my Chrysler/Force parts from Fairwinds Marina. They have a good inventory of Chryser/Force parts.

 

[jasonbailey]

Re: potential serious problem!!

Good luck with it. I have a Chrysler 75HP, probably very very similar to your 85hp Force. It did the same exact thing as your Force. Good luck with it and hopefully the new impeller will cure your problems. Do a compression check yourself and see what the reading is. I'm leaning to the blown head gasket theory. Not as scary as it may sound. I did mine for about $100.00. I pulled the head had it planed at a machine shop, new gasket and head bolts. You'll have to get a manual to see how much to torque the head bolts, I think it is about 22 inch pounds of torque. But, before you go any further, get a new impeller installed and see if that does the trick.

 

[accord_guy]

Re: potential serious problem!!

I had an '86 Force 85. If the temp sending unit is a little red cylinder thing, it's probably bad. I replaced mine with a temp gauge and never looked back again. Be sure to get the correct gauge thru a Merc dealer

 

[Realgun]

Re: potential serious problem!!

Buzzing bad, shutdown or face buying a new motor or a costly repair. <br /><br />The impeller is in two forms-<br />

• <br />
• Just the impeller<br />
• Just the impeller<br />
• The impeller and housing<br />

<br /><br />The reason you may want to get the housing is it is made of aluminium. Sand and silt will wear the housing out making a good impellor not pump much if at all.

 

[Realgun]

Re: potential serious problem!!

StillaflaotJr need an engine number here to help you get the correct part. <br /><br />BTW thats my motor and boat you have there.

 

[Joenational]

Re: potential serious problem!!

Well I dont have the number available <br />right now. but when you said costly how much is costly. when the buzzing started i shut down right away thinking the worst, I was thinking maybe a stuck themrostat does that make any sense? other then that buzzing the motor was excellent. lol to bad taht buzzing is very very bad

 

[Realgun]

Re: potential serious problem!!

No if you shutdown when your heard the over heat you should be ok I though you were still running it not know what that noise was.<br /><br />The impeller is not expensive. Less than 20 or if you get the housing around 55-60. I think iBoats has the impeller but can't seem to get the part nubers to match might want to call them I am sure they would love to help you.<br /><br /><br />The thermostat is 30 dollars. Any Merc dealer is easy to get and you cannot get 1 cheaper on the web as far as I know.

 

[Joenational]

Re: potential serious problem!!

Cool, thanks for the reply other then this have you had any other serious problems with the motor or it is a pretty good motor?

 

[Docdoc]

Re: potential serious problem!!

When my warning buzzer quit working, the result was a galled piston and ruined powerhead. It's a good idea to check it every now and then just to be sure teh darned thing is working.