1989 Force 50HP Starting / Idel problems - Long Story

[FlatCat_80]

Hello! I recently bought a boat with a 1989 50HP Force outboard (507X9C). Okay so here it is from the top! When I bought this boat the guy told me the boat was running & ready for the lake. I bought a new battery & took it out for a test run after I bought it. It had a ittle trouble starting & overheated after about 10 minutes of use & the negative (-) battery terminal melted off the battery? So I get another battery, check that the connections are clean & changed the impeller. I tried to start the engine & it would not turn over. While we were trying to get it started we noticed a spark by the engine & found 3 wires that were melted grounding out on the motor. We disconnected the battery & took the boat to Glendale Marine @ 6601 N 67th Ave Glendale, AZ 85301. They had my boat for a few days & said that I needed to replace my flywheel, spark plugs & plug boots. They offered me a used flywheel for $300.00 & also said they would repair the wires. I go back a week later & they informed that they were unable to do the timing because the water was not coming out the water pump. The said they would do it once I get the water running as it was already covered with the total payment ($493.00). So I take it home & aligned the copper pipe to the water pump (Googled it). Then to my surprise I found the the main positive wire from the battery to the motor was still exposed & not repaired. They however did repair (black tape) the other wires & change the plugs & boots. So I take it back to the shop & pick it up after another week & they informed me that they got the timing done but had to choke the motor to get it started but it dies if your try to place it in gear? So I asked what would be the next steps & he told me that it could be something in the motor or the carb. I told him I would just take my boat & go. He then told me that he believes my motor is no good & he will keep his eye out for one. So I take it home & after an hour of tinkering with the choke/throttle settings we get it started. I decided to adjust the bolt by the engine that raises & lowers the choke. Needless to say it stayed on & went into gear idling down slightly. However we could not keep it running long enough as it would die while trying to set the adjustments & the carb kept flooding. When we would try to start it we could see a little gas inside the carb & when it flooded we would have to raise the motor to let some gas drain out the carb & wait 20 minutes before starting again. I believe the carb needs to be rebuilt but I am looking for some good advice before I go messing with anything else! Thanks! Sorry for the long story but I figured it is better to start from the beginning as it may help to know the whole situation! :faint2:

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 1989 Force 50HP Starting / Idel problems - Long Story

FIRST!!!! DON"T GO BACK TO THAT DEALER!!!!!! He's an idiot.
He's just looking to sell you a motor.
Call and ask if he did a compression test???
If not ask him why he didn't?
If he did? What were the results?
If not you need to do one,post the results.
Oh yea take a breath between sentances. Very hard to read when you run it all together.
Change the impeller. Mercury dealers have or can get the parts you need.
On the carb. Top front,turn the screw in till it just bottoms(remember and post the amount of turns)then out 1 full turn.
The carb float levels might be offor the needle valve is leaking if too much gas is getting out of the carb.
Your gonna need a manual to set the carbs right.
The factory is the best,Clymer then Seloc.
Your gonna need a tachometer to set the RPM's.
Some timing lights have this or talk to someone who's a good mechnic.
The idle is adjusted by the towershaft. Go to the site below,Just remove the spaces.
boats . net
Find, Force forum, 1989 , 50hp, then shift and throttle linkage.
Look for the towershaft. That;s where you adjust the linkage/rpm's.
One more thing,check inside the fuel pump.Make sure the diapham(rubber)is ok.No holes or not streched too far.

 

[FlatCat_80]

Re: 1989 Force 50HP Starting / Idel problems - Long Story

Okay the first time I took the boat to the shop the test was like 81 / 80.
The second time he said it was 90? I don't think he is doing it correctly.
Put a new needle on the carb float & new gaskets. The guy I bought the kit from tild me the guy I took my boat too isn't too knowledgeable. So any how he asked if it has an electric choke. I looked & it was gooked up. It would not move when I turned the key. So I cleaned it & now the magnet sucks it down. The battery was dead so I will update again later

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 1989 Force 50HP Starting / Idel problems - Long Story

Yea he's not doing the test right.
Most autoparts stores will loan a comp tester.
Remove both plugs.

 

[FlatCat_80]

Re: 1989 Force 50HP Starting / Idel problems - Long Story

Okay so I rebuilt the carb & it still resulted in the same issue.
Now I also seen that my float was adjusted wrong so I readjusted the tabs.
The problem I am having now is it will start but you have to have have it on a higher idle.
Would bad fuel or lines cause it to die at a lower speed?
I do not know how long the boat sat before I ran it the first time.
Also I notice if it floods & I release the fuel from the lines & allow alittle air in the lines it will start easier!
Would my float adjustments fix that?
I have not put the carb back on yet!

I think my gas may be bad though because there was already about 3 gallons in the tank when I got it then I added 2 with 50:1 mixture to each gallon. My brother-in-law told me he don't think it could cause the issues I am having?

 

[catfishcarl99]

Re: 1989 Force 50HP Starting / Idel problems - Long Story

the gas. better to waste a little than to try and fix a bad gas issue in the carb. if the gas is bad your just wasting time. ide drain it all into a seperate can and try fresh. if you still have the problems then you know the gas is not it and can use it later. with that short you had your lucky you didnt fry the cdi. i fried mine just be shorting a light wire. $400ish new. i lucked out and got one for $80 online used. jerry really helped me earlier getting the querks out of mine.

and i second the "not taking it back to the idiot" as well. i told ya over on catfish1 that they do run well once ya get the things lined out. ill post that immage of the towershaft for ya on catfish too.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 1989 Force 50HP Starting / Idel problems - Long Story

If it only runs on high idle.
It sounds like the carb, the jet is clogged.
The passages in the carb,dirty.
Water in the gas.
The air screw,set at 1 turn out untill it's running better?