1989 Force 50 lower unit - Not starting

[httysctty]

Hello,
I bought a 1989 Force 50 (507Y9B) that was in 2 pices. The guy said it would crank right up and I am a trusting person, so I got it. I wired an ignition, the power tilt trim myself. I do not have experience with small engines, but managed to service the lower unit, replace seals, impeller and put the unit back on.
When I try to start the engine, the fly wheel spins, but it looks as if it is having trouble turning over. I tried to spin the prop and it is stuck. When I had the lower unit off, it spun fine. Is almost seams as if something is holding the drive shaft from spinning. What can make this happen? Should I take the lower off again? Does it matter if it is in gear? Maybe the impeller is in the wrong way? I may need some direction with how to connect the gear sift rod as well. I have the manual for it, so that helps. Any help is greatly appreciated
Scott

 

[emoney]

Re: 1989 Force 50 lower unit - Not starting

I'm not the best on advice in this arena, but I might be able to get you started.
I just recently replaced the lower unit on my 50hp (1983), so I know at least
what you're going through. Did your unit have a cotter pin on the shift linkage
in the lower unit itself? Was there a small, aluminum pin in front of the drive-
shaft itself? If so, this needs to be connected to the shift linkage in the mid
section of the motor (only because you didn't mention it). It should be held
on with a small pin (key) that has an even smaller cotter pin through it. This
is what shifts the motor from neutral/forward/reverse, etc.

Second, check your shift linkage. It should be on the starboard side of the
motor. Make sure the linkage is going up for forward and down for reverse.
When it shifts into neutral, does the prop free up, etc. etc.
(I might have the up for forward, down for reverse part backwards now that
I think of it. Regardless, it should go one way or the other, lol)

The impellar shouldn't be what's holding you up, but you could easily be in a
bind in some manner. Whatever you do, don't force it until you know whats
up. Get the prop to cooperate with the shift linkage before you try to start.
It should be in neutral and more than likely, you have a neutral safety switch
on the starboard side of the motor, right above and to the right of the linkage.
So, yes, to start, it would need to be in neutral.

I'd start there, and know that there's a lot of help here so rest easy, these
guys will get you going. I had never worked on any type of motor before and
they've help me come a long way.

Good luck and don't forget to share your results.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: 1989 Force 50 lower unit - Not starting

The gears are always engaged so if the lower unit is incorrectly adjusted and in gear, when you turn the prop, it will (after a small amount of free turning) try to turn the engine over.

The shift assembly is two rods: an upper and a lower . They are connected at the midleg by a hex coupler threaded opposite on each end with a jam nut to keep it from turning.. Turning one way shortens the length and the other lengthens it. You need to adjust the coupler so that with the shift lever on the engine block is in neutral, the lower unit also is in neutral. Add a stainless jam nut if you don't have one.

The impeller is symmetrical and can not be put in "the wrong way"

 

[httysctty]

Re: 1989 Force 50 lower unit - Not starting

Thank for the reply, the small cotter pin is in tack and all parts are together, but it doesnt seam to want to shift. So is up forward or backwards? This will help me once I can the motor running. Thank again, bud!

 

[emoney]

Re: 1989 Force 50 lower unit - Not starting

I know in my case, the impellar would only go in the correct way. There's a
small "key" on the driveshaft that fits into a slot cut into the impellar. That's
where the shaft grabs the impellar to turn it. Again, in my motor, it would
only go in with the key in place, one way. Manual says that once you have
the impellar installed properly, turn the drive shaft counter clockwise and that
will get it bent the right way.

Did you check and/or change the lower unit fluid while it was apart?

 

[httysctty]

Re: 1989 Force 50 lower unit - Not starting

So, Frank... I definilty need it in nutral to start her, right? thank for the advice.

Emoney, I installed it correctly and I think the impeller is bent the right way. I did drain and install new oil.

 

[emoney]

Re: 1989 Force 50 lower unit - Not starting

I'm not near my motor right now (I'm goofing off at work), but I'm pretty
sure that down is forward and up is reverse. Look at Frank's reply (he's one
of the smart ones around here) and check the connections in the middle leg.

Did you try to change gears while the lower unit was off? Did you push the
forward pin down or pull up to see if it would shift then?

Last question, why did the PO have the motor in two parts in the first place?

 

[emoney]

Re: 1989 Force 50 lower unit - Not starting

Not to answer Frank's question for him, but unless someone unhooked the
"Neutral Kill Switch" then by all means, it will need to be in neutral to start.

Do you remember what the old oil looked like when you drained it? Notice
any metal shavings? Was it like chocolate milk?

Use the search feature here in the forums and you can find a thread I started
about the shift linkage where Wickware posted pictures of the starboard side
of the motor that details the linkage itself and shows the neutral safety switch.
(Mine was actually missing when I got her)

 

[httysctty]

Re: 1989 Force 50 lower unit - Not starting

He has it in 2 parts to change the impeller and replace the gaskets. the oil that drained looked pretty good, but there was a little milkyness to it. I was able to chnage the gears when the unit was off, but I have no idea what the nuetral kill switch is...

I just put it into nuetral and tried to start her, but it only turnes the flywheer a 1/2 turn and stops for 1 secons the then turns another 1/2 turn.

 

[emoney]

Re: 1989 Force 50 lower unit - Not starting

Sounds more like you're having a "starter" problem than anything. Or, even
a drained battery.

Is it stopping because there's a "force" not allowing it to turn? Or, is it stopping
because there's not enough force to turn it?

Try and spin it with your hands. Might want to disconnect the battery just
to be safe, but you should be able to turn it. It will be tough to turn, but it
should turn. Same goes for your prop. If you have the motor in gear, it will
turn the flywheel when you force it around.

The neutral safety switch is normally a smallish (1 1/2") long "box" that has
two yellow wires on each end. It's mounted above the shift linkage on the
the starboard (right) side of your motor. It's black usually and has an off-white "knob" that you can push in thats on the underside of the box.
The linkage, when the motor is in neutral, usually
has a high side that depresses that button, allowing you to start the motor.
If it's in either forward or reverse, the high side isn't pushing in that button,
hence the no start. Find it first and if it looks as if it's all in place, then I'd
go back to the starter/solenoid/battery check route.

Follow your remote cables back to the motor, under the cowling. They're
probably on the starboard side, right? If so, where you see them connecting
to the motor, look above this area and that's where you should find the
linkage and the neutral safety switch. (I'm hoping your model has this, as
again, mine is a 1983 model). If it doesn't, then it's definitely in your starter

 

[httysctty]

Re: 1989 Force 50 lower unit - Not starting

I can turn the flywheel, so it is not locked up. I can find the stop switch. I think you are correct, I may need a starter or new battery. My charger says it is 100% charged and it has 875 cranking amps..