1988 Force 85 - Bendix stuck at flywheel | won't go past 1600 rpm "Fuel Saver" pos.
Newbie on this marine-based forum (but not new to mechanic related forums) and basically a newby regarding maintenance of marine engines. Thanks for any guidance. Stumped.
Motor Details: '88 Force 85; 3 cyl; Model: 858V88; S/N: 1705
What led to this...
Last Saturday - After buying brand new marine dual purpose battery, I took Dad's old boat out to run her for the first time this Summer (boat ran great last Summer, but admittedly, did not trickle charge the $250 Opti Blue-top battery over the Winter, and failed to stabilize/treat the fuel over the Winter). I filled three of the four 6-gallon tanks with fresh gas. Unfortunately it was Ethanol. Knowing this (but not knowing that's a no-no with these old motors) I poured 5 oz of Seafoam into each of the three tanks. Boat fired up after a few tries, and though I never went WOT, I clearly was able to get way past trolling speed. 20 min of excellent running later, engine ka-put. Restarted, but wouldn't go past 1600 RPMs. Brought the boat in closer to the launch and she died. Winds had picked up, and had to throw anchor to keep from crashing into the rocks. 3 re-starts later (over a 20 min period) and we crept back to the dock, though the motor sounded good. A quick and brief re-start at home and she fired right up. I figured I had some dirt in the fuel that maybe came loose.
Last Sunday - Hard time starting, but it finally idled good, launched but wouldn't rev past 1600-1700 rpms, trolling speed. Ran her for 75 min at that speed, but things never improved... switched tanks a few times too. No joy. Putted back to the dock a few hours later. Got home, took off the cowling to find a nut loosely laying about and was quite shocked it wasn't way down by the prop somewhere. Got it out, searched for where it should be threaded and discovered the bendix starter post (is that called a pinion?) had a loose spring atop, but no nut. Threaded the nut down and compressed the spring, but I don't know how far down it is supposed to be (I turned it all the way until finger tight).
On to This Week - Dad told me the plugs probably hadn't been changed in years. Though a bit harder to find, I replaced the wet and grimy Champion (rimfire??? no typical electrodes on these plugs) with Autolites (no one seems to have the NGK 2522s around here). Plug wires appeared fine, and I cleaned out the round aluminum fuel "filter" screen, though it was mostly clean already. I put 8 oz more of Seafoam into one of the tanks, hooked up the water hose/headphones, primed the bulb (new last Summer) turned the key, watched the choke work the carb linkage, click, bendix jumped up, tried to engage the flywheel, but flywheel wouldn't turn. I gave it 30 sec, cranked, but bendix did the same thing. This time, the unit would not work itself down the worm-drive thingamabobber. I was able to wiggle the flywheel and it dropped. Third start attempt, the bendix jumped up, lots of loud clicking/grinding but still would not engage the flywheel, and this time, I cannot get the bendix to drop at all. Flywheel is a bit stiff to turn manually.
First step??? Degrease/carb cleaner on the bendix? What do I lube it with after? Dry lube? waterproof grease?
Newbie on this marine-based forum (but not new to mechanic related forums) and basically a newby regarding maintenance of marine engines. Thanks for any guidance. Stumped.
Motor Details: '88 Force 85; 3 cyl; Model: 858V88; S/N: 1705
What led to this...
Last Saturday - After buying brand new marine dual purpose battery, I took Dad's old boat out to run her for the first time this Summer (boat ran great last Summer, but admittedly, did not trickle charge the $250 Opti Blue-top battery over the Winter, and failed to stabilize/treat the fuel over the Winter). I filled three of the four 6-gallon tanks with fresh gas. Unfortunately it was Ethanol. Knowing this (but not knowing that's a no-no with these old motors) I poured 5 oz of Seafoam into each of the three tanks. Boat fired up after a few tries, and though I never went WOT, I clearly was able to get way past trolling speed. 20 min of excellent running later, engine ka-put. Restarted, but wouldn't go past 1600 RPMs. Brought the boat in closer to the launch and she died. Winds had picked up, and had to throw anchor to keep from crashing into the rocks. 3 re-starts later (over a 20 min period) and we crept back to the dock, though the motor sounded good. A quick and brief re-start at home and she fired right up. I figured I had some dirt in the fuel that maybe came loose.
Last Sunday - Hard time starting, but it finally idled good, launched but wouldn't rev past 1600-1700 rpms, trolling speed. Ran her for 75 min at that speed, but things never improved... switched tanks a few times too. No joy. Putted back to the dock a few hours later. Got home, took off the cowling to find a nut loosely laying about and was quite shocked it wasn't way down by the prop somewhere. Got it out, searched for where it should be threaded and discovered the bendix starter post (is that called a pinion?) had a loose spring atop, but no nut. Threaded the nut down and compressed the spring, but I don't know how far down it is supposed to be (I turned it all the way until finger tight).
On to This Week - Dad told me the plugs probably hadn't been changed in years. Though a bit harder to find, I replaced the wet and grimy Champion (rimfire??? no typical electrodes on these plugs) with Autolites (no one seems to have the NGK 2522s around here). Plug wires appeared fine, and I cleaned out the round aluminum fuel "filter" screen, though it was mostly clean already. I put 8 oz more of Seafoam into one of the tanks, hooked up the water hose/headphones, primed the bulb (new last Summer) turned the key, watched the choke work the carb linkage, click, bendix jumped up, tried to engage the flywheel, but flywheel wouldn't turn. I gave it 30 sec, cranked, but bendix did the same thing. This time, the unit would not work itself down the worm-drive thingamabobber. I was able to wiggle the flywheel and it dropped. Third start attempt, the bendix jumped up, lots of loud clicking/grinding but still would not engage the flywheel, and this time, I cannot get the bendix to drop at all. Flywheel is a bit stiff to turn manually.
First step??? Degrease/carb cleaner on the bendix? What do I lube it with after? Dry lube? waterproof grease?
