1986 Force 125.... was hard to start, I fixed it, now it wont start at all

[mbhoag]

OK, this is where I am loosing my mind...

1986 Force 125. Was running OK, but was hard to start. I attributed that to the boat sitting last summer, and gas mucking up the carbs. Decided to remove carbs and clean, and this is what I have done:

1. Removed carbs (1 at a time), removed bowl, float, needle and mixture screw. Thouroughly cleaned with spray carb cleaner. Reassembled with new gasket kit, & reinstalled on engine. (did this for both carbs)

2. Installed new regulator/rectifier on motor

3. Synced carbs and set static timing to 28 degrees as in sticky video and found on forum.
(plugs out, wires grounded, throttle in WOT position)

4. Checked that choke works perfectly on both carbs.

5. Verified spark on all 4 cylinders

6. Verified cutoff switch is working correctly and not grounding engine (if it was, I would not have spark)

7. Opened and checked fuel pump for rips in membrane

8. Getting gas to carbs

9. Set mixture screws 1 1/4 turns out from lightly seated.

10 . Checked TDC mark in correct position on flywheel when screwdriver in plug hole verifies TDC

11. Pulled hair out.

Not sure what else could be wrong, it turns over at full cranking speed, but does not even attempt to fire. If it even tried to start, I would at least know I am close.

Any force guru's either in Iowa, Northern Missouri, Southern 1/2 of Minnesota, or Omaha area that would be willing to look at it if I cannot figure it out and bring it to you?

Arrrgggghhhh! I want to get out on the lake and play with my new Lowrance unit!

:facepalm:

 

[mbhoag]

Re: 1986 Force 125.... was hard to start, I fixed it, now it wont start at all

Well nevermind.... decided to take a break, went to autoparts store and picked up two things... a 15" battery cable (original cable was 3 foot long, and coiled to reach about 12 inches from Perko to battery... cable was always getting hot everytime engine was cranked over)
and an inline fuel filter (did not previously have one)

Installed both items, cranked engine over and it fired right up! Not sure if cable or filter mad the difference... but off to the lake in the AM to finish up setting carb adjustments with boat in the water... and to have a little fun! :joyous:

 

[foodfisher]

Re: 1986 Force 125.... was hard to start, I fixed it, now it wont start at all

Cable getting hot=corroded connection/cable. Maybe wasn't cranking fast enough and the replacement coincedentaly made a good connection.. Fuel filter=eh, maybe you dislodged a clog of some kind during installation. Don't forget the bandana to keep the bugs off your teeth as you fly across the water.:joyous:Knowing the proper starting procedure is worth, oh I don't know, a tattoo?

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 1986 Force 125.... was hard to start, I fixed it, now it wont start at all

Glad it's starting, Now take a few minutes and go over all the connections.
Make sure they are all tight?
The cable heating up,can make other pieces get hot too.
Chances are the starter, it's original.
Rebuild/clean the starter.
Rebuild kit $16-20

 

[mbhoag]

Re: 1986 Force 125.... was hard to start, I fixed it, now it wont start at all

Glad it's starting, Now take a few minutes and go over all the connections.
Make sure they are all tight?
The cable heating up,can make other pieces get hot too.
Chances are the starter, it's original.
Rebuild/clean the starter.
Rebuild kit $16-20

Thanks Jerry, did not put it in my post, but I have checked and tightened every single connection ... twice. Have ordered kit to redo fuel pump assembly, will have to add starter rebuild kit to my list... Thanks!

I really did not want to know how to do all of this stuff... I just wanted to go fishing!

 

[ferdly1]

Re: 1986 Force 125.... was hard to start, I fixed it, now it wont start at all

Sounds to me like you probably flooded it. There is a trick i learned years ago when you suspect flooding. I remove all spark plugs. Let the enginecycle a couple of times to expel excess fuel. Then i take a lighter burn off fuel on plugs. Reinstall plugs. unit usually fires right up. Dont recommend doing this out on the lake, I usually do this when working on engine at home. I do this on cars lawn mowers,etc. I do this on engines with carburetors dont reccomend this on fuel injected engines. However be careful when dealing with gasoline.

 

[Jiggz]

Re: 1986 Force 125.... was hard to start, I fixed it, now it wont start at all

I believe it was all about the low cranking you were getting before with the long battery cable which is probably loose or have dirty connection.

 

[mbhoag]

Re: 1986 Force 125.... was hard to start, I fixed it, now it wont start at all

Well, Spent 9 hours on the water Sunday... Boat was started, trolled at idle speed, stopped and restarted a couple of dozen times... no problems at all...
except it occassionaly would cough and die at idle speed in gear... turned up mixture screws about 1/4 turn, re-adjusted idle speed (in gear) to about 800 rpm... and all seems great with the world. Soon as I get it to a lake that is not 'no-wake' only, I will see how good she goes from a hole shot and at WOT! Before Doing all my work, she would top out at about 43 mph (per phone GPS). Looking forward to seeing what she will do now!

 

[Jiggz]

Re: 1986 Force 125.... was hard to start, I fixed it, now it wont start at all

Need to be reminded increasing mixture screw setting can stabilized idling but can also in the long run foul spark plugs. Typical setting should be 1 turn out and usually no more than 1/8 more or less from there. Any desire to increase idling speed should then be done with the idle screw located at the bottom of the timing tower. Again, there is also caution about adjusting this idling screw, too high of idling speed can ruin clutch dogs (during engaging and disengaging). Recommended idling speed on the water forward gear is 700~800 RPM which usually corresponds to 900~1000 in neutral.

 

[mbhoag]

Re: 1986 Force 125.... was hard to start, I fixed it, now it wont start at all

Thanks... will check that when It cools off enough to get back on the water... not a fan off 95+ degrees on the boat