1997 75hp force, please help! won't idle runs poor

[importfan82]

Hello,<br /><br />I am new to this board but have read many of the posts here and have found them very helpful. I would appreciate any help that this forum can provide.<br /><br />I have a 1997 75hp force on a 16 foot bayliner. <br /><br />I was coming back one evening after running it all day and right before I got to the marina the engine died and would not start again. They had to tow me in.<br /><br />I came back the next day and tried to start it in a bucket and it was extremely hard to start and would not idle at all. I have to keep the throtle down to get it to run and it sputters and backfires and just runs real poorly. I did compression check on all cylinders and they were all exactly 120. Someone recomended cleaning the carb, so I did that. Nothing changed I pulled out the spark plugs and the top two plugs are wet and fouled. I figured maybe I lost the top two packs so I moved the bottom pack to the top and still the same thing. When the engine is running you can pull the wires off of the top two plugs and it does not make a difference, but when I remove the bottom one it dies instantly. I replaced the trigger and that did nothing. I used a gap meter and they all seem to jump the same gap but I am not sure how the spark is supposed to look. It is a very very thin spark. I also tried new fuel in a portable container but that did nothing. I am currenly looking at the stator. I did the resistance check by the book and have come up with the following. Between the g/w w/g wires I get 715 ohms. The book says it should be 500-700, would 15 ohms give me the problem that I am having? Between the two yellow wires I get 5 ohms, the book says 2.2-2.4 . The stator is over $300.00 I want to be sure before I buy one. What else could be causing the problem? Please, Please help.<br /><br />Thank you,<br /><br />Allen

 

[spartanpele]

Re: 1997 75hp force, please help! won't idle runs poor

I would start with the simplest things and go onto the uglier things next. <br /><br />First of all, do you have an owners manual? If not, pick up a Seloc and Clymers owners manual. They have trouble shooting guides that can lead you step by step.<br /><br />Most problems are either fuel or spark related. <br /><br />Is your battery fully charged? Have you changed out plugs lately? Are the electrical connections all tight and clean?<br /><br />Start with the trouble shooting guides and try to eliminate possible items.

 

[importfan82]

Re: 1997 75hp force, please help! won't idle runs poor

Thank you for your fast response. Yes I have the SELOC manual and can't really find anything in there that matches my situation. They have troubleshooting if there is no spark on some or all cylinders but not if there is a weak spark or intermitent. all of the wiring looks very good and the engine is fairly new with everything in factory paint, no rust or corosion. I am truely dumbfounded on what is wrong with it.

 

[spartanpele]

Re: 1997 75hp force, please help! won't idle runs poor

Have you changed your spark plugs in the last year?

 

[importfan82]

Re: 1997 75hp force, please help! won't idle runs poor

yes, brand new spark plugs, fuel filter.

 

[importfan82]

Re: 1997 75hp force, please help! won't idle runs poor

I'm sorry, I did forget to mention is that I got stuck on a sandbar the prvious day. I took the boat to the marina, removed the lower unit and washed out the sand from the impeler housing and everywhere else that I could get the hose to reach. Can there be sand in a exhaust port or something that is not letting the motor breath? Water comes out at a pretty good flow out of the pee hole so i figured all the pasages were clear..

 

[spartanpele]

Re: 1997 75hp force, please help! won't idle runs poor

Hit the engine FAQs section in this forum and see if you can walk through the "motor won't start" section for some answers. If its not the simple stuff in the FAQs, then it might be deeper.<br /><br />The more details you can provide...the better.

 

[importfan82]

Re: 1997 75hp force, please help! won't idle runs poor

went today again, got spark,fuel,air, comression. what is missing? anyone please?

 

[importfan82]

Re: 1997 75hp force, please help! won't idle runs poor

very very hard to start, spark plugs are all wet even after running, got fuel puddling up in the intake, smoke comes out of the intake after engine stops. Could i be getting too much fuel somehow? I was thinking not enough would be the problem but starting fluid only made it worse so I am thinking too much?

 

[importfan82]

Re: 1997 75hp force, please help! won't idle runs poor

anyone?

 

[spartanpele]

Re: 1997 75hp force, please help! won't idle runs poor

Don't use starting fluid with your motor. Use the same gas/oil mix in a small container and squirt it into the cylinders vs starting fluid. However, if you can smell plenty of gas when taking out your plugs...it may be a flooding issue vs not getting enough gas.<br /><br />For Spark: Have you used a spark plug tester/gauge (buy at a auto parts place, etc to test spark.) <br /><br />For fuel: Have you used a portable gas container with fresh gas/oil mix, etc. Have you checked over your fuel filter for debris? Have you checked your fuel pump is working correctly? Is your choke possibly getting stuck in the on position? Have you checked over all your vacuum hoses? <br /><br />The tub you're using for starting your motor...do you replace the water with fresh water each time? Is the water full of gas/oil? Will your engine start with muffs on?<br /><br />I'm just spitballing and throwing out as many questions as I can. I'm not having the greatest of luck with mine starting right now either...but it sounds like your problems are a bit different then mine.

 

[importfan82]

Re: 1997 75hp force, please help! won't idle runs poor

Thanks for your reply,<br /><br />yes, all the sparks jump the same gap.<br /><br />yes, i have used the portable gas container with brand new gas and a perfect oil mix.<br /><br />i bypased the choke and nothing changed, all the lines are tight. I changed the filter 2 times, changed the plugs once. <br /><br />tub and mufs have the same reaction, doesnt make a difference. <br /><br />I have realized something today while searching through posts, when I squeze the bulb till it is firm fuel starts to pour out of the vent hole on top of the carburator. that is not normal is it? does the pump have a ruptured diaphram? should i look there next? <br /><br />thanks

 

[chuckz]

Re: 1997 75hp force, please help! won't idle runs poor

Fuel spilling out the vent means the carb float is not working. The float is suppose to "float" up and shut off the gas when the bowl is full. Drop the bowl and see if the float is damaged. The jolt from running aground could have affected the carburator float.

 

[eurolarva]

Re: 1997 75hp force, please help! won't idle runs poor

Sorry posted in wrong area

 

[importfan82]

Re: 1997 75hp force, please help! won't idle runs poor

thank you all for your replies, im going today to check on the float.

 

[importfan82]

Re: 1997 75hp force, please help! won't idle runs poor

took of the carb today, took off the float readjusted and reinstalled. also rebuilt fuel pump. the leaking problem is gone but engine still won't start very well or idle. I think i might throw in the towel on this one and have a shop look at it. Thanks for the help guys.