1980 Chrysler 85HP stalls when throttling up.

DJK0379

Cadet
Joined
Jul 20, 2008
Messages
10
I have an old Chrysler, 1980 85HP, that I just recently got running finally. It has been sitting for 4 years at least without being ran. When running it at home I could never get the choke opened fully, it would stall. I would have to close it all the way and just barely open it for it to idle in the horse trough. I took it out to the lake this past weekend and after about 15 minutes of slow puttering around I can now open the choke fully, but if I increase the speed beyond just barely moving, the motor chugs and dies.
I slowly rode around for a couple hours thinking maybe it needs to be cleaned out and it never improved.
One other thing, from neutral to where the motor engages prop, the ?shifter? is pushed forwards almost a quarter of the way before it engages and it engages rather roughly. Any suggestions for that also?
Sorry for the multiple questions and lots of text, just trying to give all relevant details without bogging it down with fluff.
 

Frank Acampora

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jan 19, 2007
Messages
12,004
Re: 1980 Chrysler 85HP stalls when throttling up.

Most likely the engine is running out of fuel. Since it has been sitting, you need to check from the tank pick-up right to the carbs.

Before going crazy, remove the carbs and clean them with WD40. No need to completely disassemble them, just remove the bowls and clean them, remove the floats and inlet needles, and use a pipe cleaner in the brass tubes and high speed jets. Spray WD into all orifices and vents.

Replace the fuel pump diaphragm and gasket--if the local Merc dealer says he can't look up a 1980 engine, just ask him for a fuel pump diaphragm from a 1990 125 Hp Force engine--they are all the same. He should be able to reference that.

Shift linkage is set up so that the engine goes into gear before the throttle starts to advance. Some have more play than others before shifting. If you are shifting slowly expecting to smooth the shift, that is incorrect. That will cause a rattling, grinding noise.These engines have drive dogs and the correct way to put them in gear is to quickly snap them in to minimise wear of the dogs. They go into gear with a "clunk"
 

DJK0379

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Joined
Jul 20, 2008
Messages
10
Re: 1980 Chrysler 85HP stalls when throttling up.

Ok, sounds easy enough.
This is my first boat, so learning as I go along here.
Thanks a bunch and I'm hopefully going to get a chance to take it out this weekend after doing these fixes.
 

DJK0379

Cadet
Joined
Jul 20, 2008
Messages
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Re: 1980 Chrysler 85HP stalls when throttling up.

Ok, took it out today.
Did all the fixes you mentioned and now it starts almost immediately (definite plus to the almost 5 minutes getting it running before) and it still won't go faster, just a slow/medium idle (gauge not even hitting 10mph).
Ran it around for a few hours at that anyways and occasionally it would bump and engine would rev up and it would speed up, but it would just drop back down again. If I give it full throttle it is still dieing most times, sometimes it would stay running but it was rough sounding.
Guess I can't complain much, it was a free boat, just needed a floor and seats and obviously some engine work, but hoping it's nothing too serious.

Figured I would mention, the carb bowls were caked with a slimy black stuff (my guess is unused oil)when I took them off.
 

DJK0379

Cadet
Joined
Jul 20, 2008
Messages
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Re: 1980 Chrysler 85HP stalls when throttling up.

Any other suggestions?
Is it one of those lost causes and no one wants to just tell me that?
Thanks in advance.:)
 

tommyveee

Recruit
Joined
Jul 11, 2008
Messages
4
Re: 1980 Chrysler 85HP stalls when throttling up.

If the carb bowls were carboned, chances are the rest of the fuel system does too. Do a search on Sea Foam here on the forum and run it through the motor. Replace plugs and give it a go.
 

DJK0379

Cadet
Joined
Jul 20, 2008
Messages
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Re: 1980 Chrysler 85HP stalls when throttling up.

Ran sea foam through, after smoking up the neighborhood still same problem.
Read on here about testing compression and went and got a compression tester and the readings were:

#1: 140
#2: 60
#3: 140

Took the head off and the head gasket is broke at the bottom of the 2nd cylinder. I put some gasket seal on it to see if I would get different readings and #2 read 120 after that which wasn't a good seal with that stuff anyways.
So, I'm assuming that is the problem hopefully. Going to order one and give it a go. My local dealer didn't have any and wouldn't be able to order until Monday anyways.
Thanks for the help everyone and will probably have more questions as I go along.

My next question is, is http://www.outboardparts.com a reliable site? Their site is really bad design and that can be a bit worrisome. I found the gasket there for 26.95, couldn't find it on this site, only went as low as 1984 in the year here, in fact this is the closest:
http://www.iboats.com/mall/partfinder/?gd_grid_id=154&gd_partfinder=1&gd_poid=109073&gd_row=18
is that the right one?
Model: 859HA
Serial: 1022
 

eurolarva

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jun 24, 2003
Messages
4,182
Re: 1980 Chrysler 85HP stalls when throttling up.

The quick silver number is F369529-1 which does not match as the compared one to 18-3855 which crosses over to quick silver 27-820438. F369529-1 is the correct one
 

DJK0379

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Joined
Jul 20, 2008
Messages
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Re: 1980 Chrysler 85HP stalls when throttling up.

I'm not able to find that number anywhere.
I did find
CHRYSLER, FORCE HEAD GASKET # 369

HEAD GASKET ONLY FOR 1970-97 70-90HP 3 CYL CHRYSLER / FORCE

OE # : 27-F369529-3, 27-820438

but it's F369529-3 instead of -1.
Looking at the picture it looks like it would fit but this is at outboardparts.com and I'm still not sure about them for some reason, I'm probably just overly paranoid.

I just realized those numbers match what you said didn't match, I found this
https://www.onesourceboatingsupply....=1984&p3= 75 &p4=H0756H84L FOB3850 &p1=4
would that one be the right one then? The redline one looks just like the original one.
 

eurolarva

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jun 24, 2003
Messages
4,182
Re: 1980 Chrysler 85HP stalls when throttling up.

Click HERE
Then go to chrysler your year, model number then powerhead. It looks like merc no longer carries it but if you google the part number you can find it elsewhere.
 

DJK0379

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Joined
Jul 20, 2008
Messages
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Re: 1980 Chrysler 85HP stalls when throttling up.

I guess I may be missing something, when I goggle the part number F369529-1 I only get one site, but this number is the same one you mentioned:
http://www.boats.net/parts/detail/merc/M-F369529.html
Also the link you listed doesn't have the serial or model number that's off the plate on the motor. I chose chrysler, 85(1980) then none of the numbers there match what I got, which is model 859HA Serial 1022.
 

eurolarva

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jun 24, 2003
Messages
4,182
Re: 1980 Chrysler 85HP stalls when throttling up.

That is because 859HA is from 1977 not 1980. That quick silver number is F369529. The only difference in the part number is the -1.
 

DJK0379

Cadet
Joined
Jul 20, 2008
Messages
10
Re: 1980 Chrysler 85HP stalls when throttling up.

hrm, well that's strange.
Both that plate and the title for the motor say it's a 1980. The boat itself is 1977 so you may be right. I'm really confused by it all right now and can probably figure it out on a clear un-tired head.
Thanks for the help.
 

eurolarva

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jun 24, 2003
Messages
4,182
Re: 1980 Chrysler 85HP stalls when throttling up.

Motor was produced in 1977 and probably sold in 1980. It is not uncommon for motor to be built and not sold for a few years. If you go to the link I posted a couple above this one and go to chrysler, 85, 1977 you will see your model number listed there.
 

DJK0379

Cadet
Joined
Jul 20, 2008
Messages
10
Re: 1980 Chrysler 85HP stalls when throttling up.

Ok thanks for the help.
I ordered an exact one from Mercury today through local boat dealer. Cost $47.12 but guaranteed to be the right one. They said it has to be made and shipped from Houston.
I'll post again if this fixes everything, then probably a new batch of questions will pop up I'm sure.
 

DJK0379

Cadet
Joined
Jul 20, 2008
Messages
10
Re: 1980 Chrysler 85HP stalls when throttling up.

That seemed to fix most of my problems. I went out this past Saturday and I can definitely go a lot faster. Took a couple minutes and I was able to get up around 30mph. The water was pretty rough and when I was going with the wind/waves I could go around 30. When I turned around to head back it was a different story. Going into wind/waves I couldn't go no more than 10-15mph.
Compression is now:
#1 130
#2 125
#3 130
I'm actually not 100% sure the fuel pump diaphragm was changed out. I didn't have the boat at the time and other person didn't know what I was talking about when I re-asked them. I guess this would be the next logical step?
Also, I've tried looking for one but I am unable to find it, maybe I'm not searching for the right part though.
 
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