1999 force 90 HP clanking and clunking

[Daddy Grace]

Hey everyone... quick introduction... I'm Chuck in Evans, Ga.... Thanks for letting me in on all of this... hopefully you folks are a bit more easy on newbies than us snow ski folks are over on SkiNC.... but anyway....

I just bought a little '99 Pro Craft 170 fish n ski with a 90 hp Force for dirt cheap (ergo the reason for this thread...). When I went to check it out we hooked it up to some ear muffs and ran the motor which ran great... I said thanks and headed home.... Took it out the next day and after 15 minutes of W.O.T. I pulled it up into neutral and I notice that the engine is idling around a grand or more and the engine is clanking and clunking around like a chicken with back legs.... I of course headed back and pulled the boat out of the water.

Now to the point... I've been told (by a local mercury stealership) that the clutch dog is on the fritz and that I should drop it off with him immediately to sit for 3 weeks while he catches up so that he can address the problem. He instructed me to NOT start the motor again or it will result in big problems..

I say phhhhttt... He just wants my $$$ like all stealerships do... If the thing is going bad it's gonna have to be replaced anyway so what's the big deal in running the motor... AND I've got new boat syndrome and want to ski this weekend....

Can you folks please advise me as to whether or not I'm going to cause further damage to this motor over the weekend by running it... I thank you all for your comments, guidance, and criticism in advance....

Happy Friday to everyone!!!!!!

 

[john from md]

Re: 1999 force 90 HP clanking and clunking

Well, you probably have already damaged the clutch dogs. If you continue, it will only get worse and may tear up the powerhead to boot.

You can buy a replacement lower on ebay for $500 to $750 if you want to keep using it like it is. Powerheads go for about $1000.

John

 

[Daddy Grace]

Re: 1999 force 90 HP clanking and clunking

Well, you probably have already damaged the clutch dogs. If you continue, it will only get worse and may tear up the powerhead to boot.

You can buy a replacement lower on ebay for $500 to $750 if you want to keep using it like it is. Powerheads go for about $1000.

John

Thanks John.... I appreciate the advice!

 

[roscoe]

Re: 1999 force 90 HP clanking and clunking

If the lower unit locks up when you are turning 5000 rpm, expect to damage more.

 

[Daddy Grace]

Re: 1999 force 90 HP clanking and clunking

Help me understand please sir.... how would it lock up... I don't understand the concept of a "clutch dog"... I have a basic idea but I'm still kinda lost... where are they located... In the lower unit or in under the engine cover...etc etc etc...

Thanks for your help...

 

[john from md]

Re: 1999 force 90 HP clanking and clunking

Go to page 292 of the Clymer manual or page 8-2 of the Seloc manual and the illustration will explain it to you.

No manual, well you need to buy one then because rebuilding the lower is a big job. I recommend the Clymer.

John

 

[Daddy Grace]

Re: 1999 force 90 HP clanking and clunking

That's PERFECT! I was just doing some research and came across the seloc manuals.... I'll look to the clymer manual as per your recommendation and THANK YOU SO MUCH for the advice....

How about this??? After 15 or so minutes of continuos cruising I shut the engine off and just sit for half an hour and then when I crank the engine back up it's as though the carbuerators are gummed up or something...(just like my dad's old 1976 Evinrude would do after sitting up all winter with gas left in the motor...) You know... the engine bogs down and shuts off when trying to accelerate...

What I do to overcome this is just crack the throttle in right up to the "breaking point" and then back off a notch and putt along at 7-8 MPH until the engine decides that I wants to "go" and then everything is fine and it runs like a champ.... well except for when I have to shift it back into neutral...

More advice???? :redface:

 

[foodfisher]

Re: 1999 force 90 HP clanking and clunking

Why don't you just empty your head and search "Waking up a sleeping engine"? Do that stuff and you will have a starting point.

 

[john from md]

Re: 1999 force 90 HP clanking and clunking

+1 for what foodfisher said.

John

 

[Daddy Grace]

Re: 1999 force 90 HP clanking and clunking

I shall do so...

 

[Daddy Grace]

Re: 1999 force 90 HP clanking and clunking

Man.. this is frustratin'... I am NOT mechanically inclined and my wife is PISSED at me for spending 3 grand on a boat that has these kind of issues...

What you're tellin' me is to stop stressin' and address the issues rather than fawn over them but my dilemma is that I have NO idea how much all of this is going to cost to ADDRESS the issues... (not that it matters because it IS what it IS) I just want to know if, based on my description of the problems, I should just buy another motor.... I don't know what else to say... Any and all further advice will be greatly appreciated... (and thanks for all of the input up to this point)

Chuck

 

[roscoe]

Re: 1999 force 90 HP clanking and clunking

Clutch dog is like a gear with only 2 teeth and 2 recesses. It slides into an matching piece.
It is located in the lower unit.

In simple terms, from the powerhead, you have a driveshaft which is always turning when the engine is running. The driveshaft enters the lower unit and if the shift rod is moved, it will engage the driveshaft with the propeller shaft, via the clutchdog.

If the clutchdog or lower unit gears would break or bind up, from the current clunking situation, the driveshaft will immediately stop. Sometimes they snap, sometimes something in the powerhead will snap from the sudden stop.


Sounds like your motor is suffering from neglect.

What it needs is a good going through, top to bottom.

Probably could use :
a good decarbing
a carb cleaning
a fuel pump rebuild
a new water pump impeller
gear lube changed
new thermostat
new spark plugs
new fuel line and primer bulb.
cleaning,and greasing
steering cable lubricated

This is what I would consider to be the most basic preventive maintenance, to be performed every few years.

If you don't want to do it, find a mechanic that will.

 

[Daddy Grace]

Re: 1999 force 90 HP clanking and clunking

Roscoe... you ARE the man... thank you, thank you, thank you.... I edited the previous post just now so as to NOT appear quite so insolent... Sorry that you had to see it as it were but thank you again for such clear, concise, advise despite the attitude that I displayed....

Thanks again....

 

[roscoe]

Re: 1999 force 90 HP clanking and clunking

No problem.

I suspect this problem:
"" After 15 or so minutes of continuos cruising I shut the engine off and just sit for half an hour and then when I crank the engine back up it's as though the carbuerators are gummed up or something... What I do to overcome this is just crack the throttle in right up to the "breaking point" and then back off a notch and putt along at 7-8 MPH until the engine decides that I wants to "go" and then..."

Is likely a fuel pump problem. Eventually it will get worse, to the point that it will not start unless you let it sit for hours. Torn or pin-holed diaphragm in the fuel pump. Allows fuel to leak through the back side of the fuel pump, into the powerhead, and floods out the lower cylinder.

Parts to fix are under $20. It is a common problem with todays gasoline with alcohol in it. THe new parts are more alcohol resistant.

So, if you are going to have a boat, expect to have maintenance and repairs done to it. This will eliminate the headaches and ruined days at the lake. Nothing is worse than a chronically bad running boat motor.

Good luck, and hope you get her out on the water soon.

 

[Daddy Grace]

Re: 1999 force 90 HP clanking and clunking

Just to let you know.... It turned out to be nothing more than the Stator (sp???).... evidently, as it was going bad, it was causing the cylinders to exchange fire when the others weren't firing... if that makes sense... gear oil was fine as were all of the other routine maintenance items.. the control box IS going out though, and as fate would have it, I'm told that there is no longer such a thing as the "Quicksilver 3000" control box and I can't find a used one ANYWHERE... I suppose that I'll just ride out the "storm" til' I get "caught in a downdraft and slammed into the ground" at which time I'll upgrade to whatever shifter replaced said "defunct" one...

Thanks for all of your help...