89 Force 125 only getting 3800 RPM at WOT (1251X9B)

napbunny

Recruit
Joined
Sep 13, 2011
Messages
3
Hello all,

Well, to start, this is my first post and my first outboard... I am pretty mechanically sound, and so this has actually been a fun adventure! (i know that may sound weird) Now i know how an outboard works, because before, looking at it was like trying to read Chinese... Anyway. But i am somewhat going around in circles a little bit and maybe one of you have experienced the same problem and you have already solved the issue.

Main issues: (all were happening prior to any work starting on it)

1. idles fine for the most part. When i stop for a while it takes a few trys to get it going again and may sneeze in the process, but it always fires up. And when i try to go in to the dock, putting it in gear just slightly, it dies probably 70% of the time, so i have been kind of a magician now on the ole float the boat in from afar trick. But it sucks for tight spaces and i really don't want to hit a $80k boat with my piece of crap 89 19' bayliner cuddy. This may just be a completely separate issue from #2 and may just take a quick adjustment. (Idles at about 900 no load / 700 with load)

2. WOT - It only gets 3800 RPM, no matter with load on it or not. (i revved it up for a quick second by hand - not knowing that that was a no-no until after. But nonetheless, thats how i know...)

Yet, in saying this, the engine really does purr like a kitten at the speed it reaches, but it just is not the 5000 - 5500 RPM that it is supposed to achieve. And with such a hog for a boat, i really would like to get this amount because it takes about a year to plane and i can only get about 24 MPH. Trying to tow anything but a feather is a negative ghost rider...


Actions taken:

New spark plugs
New fuel with 50:1 ratio of oil
Compression test: 130 across the board (cold test - maybe a hot test is needed?)
Spark test: All cylinders have spark with a inline spark light tester (do i need one that has a certain gap?) Can this type of ignition i will say "flame out" at higher RPMs?
Fuel pump rebuilt completely
Carburetors fully rebuilt and look great - Linked and Synced
Fuel lines of engine inspected and some changed that looked worn
Stator ohm test - 713 on both sets of wires (no voltage test done - needed?) As reference, book says 680 - 800 so that seems fine.
Trigger ohn test - 45 on all 4 sets of wires (no voltage test done - needed?) As reference, book says 48-52, could this be my problem? Its a little low, but it is consistent.
Prop changed (but as i mentioned - Load didn't matter)

Items not done:

Timing - If this may be the issue, i would love to have someone walk me through it, for this is one item that i have never done on any of the engines i have ever worked on... But i just would think by what timing should do, it wouldn't actually run smoothly if this was off? But maybe i am waaaay off on that thought.

Entire coils and CDI replacement - But i do have the whole "board" i guess you would call it that i got off Ebay from a seller who was parting out the same engine and said they all worked before the engine blew)

Rectifier - not sure if this could cause this issue - but it does have a crack where the negative pole has peeled up the corner of it. Thought i would add this just in case.

Exhaust - Haven't looked all through the exhaust, but it does come out where it is supposed to and quite a bit of it, but maybe not enough at WOT? was just a thought coming from working on cars, if the exhaust is pushing back it has this similar issue, but that not may be the case in an outboard.

Choke - Could the solenoid (for a lack of a better word) be messing around with it and possibly making it stick? didn't want to run it without the carburetor covers off to see when at WOT.

Fuel bulb / vent / tank system - Bulb gets hard, when i take it off the engine it if i squeeze it hard it will shoot about 3'.

Well, that's about it. Sorry this was a long read, but i wanted to post as thorough a post as i could so that you guys could know where i have done the troubleshooting and where i have not.

Thanks in advance.
 
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Frank Acampora

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jan 19, 2007
Messages
12,004
Re: 89 Force 125 only getting 3800 RPM at WOT (1251X9B)

With an apparently good running engine, before you go blaming engine components for lack of RPM, first look to other causes. Compression ratio appears to be about right so the engine is internally healthy.

NOW: look at what prop you are using. Your combination should probably be a 13 X 17 pitch. Anything more will load the engine. Check the hull itself for retained water. 500 pounds of waterlogged hull will make a major difference in performance.

Look at the video in the stickys. Be certain that both carbs are opening fully and equally.

You can run it without carb covers. They are there only to contain "spit-back" and keep the inside of the cover cleaner. As a matter of interest, you will be surprised to see the amount of fuel vaporizing in the venturi at WOT
 

jerryjerry05

Supreme Mariner
Joined
May 7, 2008
Messages
18,183
Re: 89 Force 125 only getting 3800 RPM at WOT (1251X9B)

Like FrankA suggested.Prop what's on there?
Load? How many people,dogs,coolers and STUFF?
Dirty bottom?
Rain water in the bildge?Soggy flotation?(removed 800# of saturated foam from a 21)
Under the hood, there is a rubber bellows that the exhaust and water goes through.
It's held on with a rusty metal clamp.Both of my engines were leaking exhaust into the cowl from the bellows's bad clamp.
The mounting gasket could be leaking exhaust into the cowl too.
The choke, if it was working or kicking in as you run,It wouldn't run.
Timing shouldn't be a problem unless you've taken the flywheel and trigger off???
The tank vent line?Could be clogged with wasp nests?
The pickup tube in the tank could be partially clogged?
 

SkiDad

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jul 18, 2010
Messages
1,518
Re: 89 Force 125 only getting 3800 RPM at WOT (1251X9B)

You already got good advice from the pros! It sounds like a prop to me - what is your speed at 3800 ?
 

napbunny

Recruit
Joined
Sep 13, 2011
Messages
3
Re: 89 Force 125 only getting 3800 RPM at WOT (1251X9B)

Thanks fellas for the responses.

Yes, i started with maybe i just had too much load. that's why i revved it without load to see. (as posted, i found out this was not a good idea. but i already was running the same way and only did it for a second - 3800 RPM) So in my thoughts, it could never get MORE than that with load on it, so the prop, weight, water, clean bottom, etc, went out the door for me as for what could be going wrong. to answer two questions, about 24 MPH with just me, myself and I and running a 13.5 x 17. But again, if the RPMs aren't there in the first place, how could it magically get more with load on it? it is the same with or without load.

So, i will take the advice as to the vent line, the exhaust, etc. and i will get back to you all on this.

Again, i appreciate the responses!
 

foodfisher

Captain
Joined
Feb 18, 2009
Messages
3,756
Re: 89 Force 125 only getting 3800 RPM at WOT (1251X9B)

The rpm's can't get there with an overload. Wheel barrows work fine "if" you can lift the handles.
 

napbunny

Recruit
Joined
Sep 13, 2011
Messages
3
Re: 89 Force 125 only getting 3800 RPM at WOT (1251X9B)

That is what i am saying... Even with NO load as in ZERO (revved engine while it was in a barrel of water), it won't get up to correct RPM. I don't mean to be a jerk, but repeating myself on this fact just seems to be getting overlooked. pretend this engine is sitting on an engine stand for all intensive purposes and it does not rev up to the RPM spec'd. What could the issue be? I enjoyed the wheelbarrow comment, so to take that as a reference, imagine it being completely empty, and i am trying to get my engine to be as strong as Arnold Schwartzenegger was back in the day... :)
 

jerryjerry05

Supreme Mariner
Joined
May 7, 2008
Messages
18,183
Re: 89 Force 125 only getting 3800 RPM at WOT (1251X9B)

Not reaching rpm.
Is the gauge right?
No load it should rip right to max.
 

NYBo

Admiral
Joined
Oct 23, 2008
Messages
7,107
Re: 89 Force 125 only getting 3800 RPM at WOT (1251X9B)

No load it should rip right to max.
But only in gear. You can't get WOT using the fast idle function on the control box.

As noted, make sure the carbs are opening fully and the timing is advancing fully.

Your idle speed is a little low. Try bumping it up to 750-800 in gear.
 
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