125 force starting issues.

[CoastGuardCobia]

Hello everyone, I am once again stuck scratching my head with my 125 Force. I have replaced carbs, water pump, thermostat, plugs, and just recently starter and battery. My issue is the motor will barely turn over even with new starter and good battery. I have tested battery just ensure it was not just a bad battery I bought by chance. It has correct cranking amps. I have cleaned all connections, grounds, ignition switch connections. Also, I have attempted to bypass ignition switch by jumping the solenoid. It had same issue either way. I took out plugs and it turned over like a champ.

I am out of ideas. It was just running great a week ago. It fired right up after I replaced water pump. It was cooling and pumping like a champ. Then it flooded out at the boat ramp and has not been able to crank ever sense. I am just hoping that I am over looking something. Is it possible the is a rod stuck? Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks everyone!

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: 125 force starting issues.

Try taking four 3/8 lock washers. put one under each battery cable and one on top. then screw on the wing nuts. The lock washers bite into the metal and ensure a clean corrosion free connection.

If that doesn't help, get a bigger battery: The battery I had in my cuddy (500 CCA) turned the 4 cylinder 140 just fine. It would not turn the 5 cylinder 150. I bought a bigger battery (750 CCA)and it cranks over the 5 cylinder fine.

If the engine is turning free with no plugs, then nothing is jammed.

 

[foodfisher]

Re: 125 force starting issues.

What where you doing when it flooded out at the boat ramp? Double clean the connections. Looking good doesn't cut it.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 125 force starting issues.

Try doing a compression test. Sometimes a low cylinder makes it hard to turn over??
Remove all the plugs.

 

[CoastGuardCobia]

Re: 125 force starting issues.

Thanks everyone for the advice. It is looking like a have a blown head gasket. I still need to do a compression test but, the bottom two plugs were fouled with rusty salt water. I will take the advice with the washers on the battery terminals, Thanks.

I was just running it at high idle at the boat ramp to ensure water pump was installed and working properly, which it was. Then, it choked out and would not crank again. I am hoping the head gasket change out will not be that difficult. I do appreciate all the great advice.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: 125 force starting issues.

Ahhh! You didn't tell us about the rusty water in the cylinders--Of course it will not turn over with the plugs in. The water has washed away the oil and/or is causing hydraulic lock with the plugs in.

Remove the head, check the head gasket, clean the affected cylinders, and re-oil them with fuel pre-mix. Reinstall the head with a new gasket if the old one is bad and try to crank her over.

If the head gasket is in good condition, check the gaskets and stainless plate on the exhaust chest. A perforated plate or ruptured gaskets will squirt water into the cylinders

Once you correct the problem run the engine for a couple of gallons with a "fat" mix of about 25-40 to 1 fuel/oil to get some good oil back into everything. OR, with a turkey baster, squirt some straight oil into the carbs while the engine is running.

 

[foodfisher]

Re: 125 force starting issues.

Ahhh! You didn't tell us about the rusty water in the cylinders-- Starting to get a kick out of the just remembered details.