96 Force 90hp ...is it the starter?

[georgek1414]

I recenetly bought a '96 skeeter with a 90hp force outboard. The first day on the lake went well until we decided to run back to the dock. my trolling motor bell sounded, alerting me that the battery was getting low. When i went to fire up the big motor, it turned over once, then i was unable to get it to even start to turn over again. The trolling motor and main motor are both ran by seperate batteries, so i assume it was a coincidence that both died at the same time. Once i got home i had both batteries tested, and they were good, but i put a brand new battery on the big motor just to be safe. I would partially turn the started over, but not enough to get it going. The gear on the top of the starter will not disengage when i release the key, or when the flywheel makes a few revolutions. I am by no means a mechanic, any suggestions? If it does turn out to be the starter, is this an easy swap?

Thanks,
A LandLocked Staff SGT.

 

[TwoFish]

Re: 96 Force 90hp ...is it the starter?

Welcome to Iboats georgek1414.

Clean all the connections on the main cables. At the battery, negative wire where it connects to the block of the motor and the positive cable at the solenoid terminals and base of the starter.

As far as the pinion gear sticking on the flywheel. Clean the thread on shaft of the starter that pinion gear moves on. Don?t get any solvents on the pinion gear as it has a rubber bush inside. Use a very small amount of light oil on the starter shaft. It should move freely.

There should be a small spring between the top nut and the pinion gear. Check that this is OK and not rusted away.

Let us know how you go.


Good Luck

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: 96 Force 90hp ...is it the starter?



And you need never be stranded on the water because of battery or starter. These engines have a self activated ignition, much like magneto ignition. With the switch on and cold engine primed or warm engine, they can be rope pulled started. If an old guy like me can pull start this 4 cylinder Force 125, so can you! But yes, you MUST brace your foot against either the engine lower cowling or the splashwell.

 

[georgek1414]

Re: 96 Force 90hp ...is it the starter?

Thinks TwoFish and Frank,
Going to clean all of the connections and check to ensure that they are tight, as well as clean up the shaft on the starter. Hope this resolves the issue and saves my week off! Thanks, let you guys know how it goes.

 

[georgek1414]

Re: 96 Force 90hp ...is it the starter?

TwoFish,
Got the starter up and running great, flywheel is turning freely when engaged by the starter....now the engine won't fire up. I do have a small amount of fuel leaking from the intake/carbs. Is this normal after attempting to start an engine multiple times without it engaging? I attempted to take the airbox off of the carbs but was unable to get the final bolt out (don't have a short enough extension on my ratchet). I was thinking about hitting them up with some carb cleaner and priming them and trying again., Any suggestions? Thanks

 

[TwoFish]

Re: 96 Force 90hp ...is it the starter?

I don?t get fuel out of my carby. You may have a needle and seat not sealing in the carby or an incorrectly set float height.

Is the kill switch at the forward control switched in the correct position? I?ve done this myself.

You need compression, spark & fuel for the motor to run.

As the motor was running OK when you used it last the compression is probably OK. If you have the equipment it is easy to check.

I?d check to see if you are getting a spark as it is easier than chasing fuel problems. You may have misplaced a wire when you were cleaning the contacts.
An inline spark tester will let you check each sparkplug is getting power. Have you checked the sparkplugs to see if they are fowled up?

Don?t ever crank the engine without having the sparkplug wires grounded or pull the sparkplug wire off whilst running. Eg Need to be grounded to an earth or attach to the plugs that are in the engine. The ignition can be damaged this way.

Check if you have spark & compression. Deal with the fuel later if necessary.

 

[fucawi]

Re: 96 Force 90hp ...is it the starter?

The pinion splines on the starter should not be oiled .this attracts dirt and then it sticks ...it should be like a rifle barrel ..oiled but no oil on it except sufficeint to stop corrosion ..WD40 or parafin is ok but not petrol for cleaning it

 

[georgek1414]

Re: 96 Force 90hp ...is it the starter?

Going to pull the plugs and check them, ensure that they are getting a spark to them as well as make sure that kill switch is still good. I actually have some dry lube i use on my weapons when i'm in a desert enviroment, what do you think about using one of those?

 

[georgek1414]

Re: 96 Force 90hp ...is it the starter?

Put in new set of plugs, they are getting power, pulled the airbox off the carbs, and turned the engine over. After turning for a few seconds, fuels begins to drip from the top two carbs. If i do take the carb down, i assume i would need a rebuild kit to replace the gaskets.

 

[georgek1414]

Re: 96 Force 90hp ...is it the starter?

tore down the carbs, floats and pins are good, cleaned out jets, and when i turn the ingnition, i'm still getting fuel out of the throats of the top 2 cylineders. going to recheck the plugs tomorrow to ensure that they are getting spark, not sure where to go from there, maybe the kill switch.

 

[TwoFish]

Re: 96 Force 90hp ...is it the starter?

If you get a spark the kill switch is OK.

When you say you checked the pins in the carbs do you mean the needle and seat?
One rough way of checking these is to get a clean piece of hose, connect it to the fuel intake fitting of the carby and blow into it. You need to have the base of the carby off and apply a light upward pressure on the float. The needle and seat should not leak air. The taper on the needle should be straight not indented.

Others may have better tests than this one.

Have you checked the float levels in the carbys?

 

[georgek1414]

Re: 96 Force 90hp ...is it the starter?

The pins do look to be indented. The only shop need me is closed till the 11th, have you used the iboats online store before? the have several carb kits available, was going to order one and replace the needles and see if helps the leaking issue.

 

[TwoFish]

Re: 96 Force 90hp ...is it the starter?

No I haven?t ordered anything from iboats. I?m in Australia so postage can be expensive. Touch wood I haven?t needed expensive enough parts to warrant the postage.

I?ve been thinking further on the fuel problem.

Does the fuel come out of the top carbys when you pump the primer bulb or only when the engine is cranking to start it?

Does the primer bulb get firm when you prime the engine?

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: 96 Force 90hp ...is it the starter?

Check the fuel enrichment valve (choke) to be certain that it is 1. Closing when not in choke 2. The red handle is in the closed position, not manual override open. This valve injects fuel directly into the back of the carbs and if left open, the excess raw fuel will eventually run out the carbs.

 

[JakeEddie]

Re: 96 Force 90hp ...is it the starter?

What was it that FIXED the starting problem? You only stated you got it going.

Thanks,
Jake

 

[georgek1414]

Re: 96 Force 90hp ...is it the starter?

No I haven?t ordered anything from iboats. I?m in Australia so postage can be expensive. Touch wood I haven?t needed expensive enough parts to warrant the postage.

I?ve been thinking further on the fuel problem.

Does the fuel come out of the top carbys when you pump the primer bulb or only when the engine is cranking to start it?

Does the primer bulb get firm when you prime the engine?

the primer bulb does firm up when primed. i'm only getting fuel leaking fromt he top too carbs when i turn the engine over, haven't noticed any when i prime the bulb

 

[georgek1414]

Re: 96 Force 90hp ...is it the starter?

Check the fuel enrichment valve (choke) to be certain that it is 1. Closing when not in choke 2. The red handle is in the closed position, not manual override open. This valve injects fuel directly into the back of the carbs and if left open, the excess raw fuel will eventually run out the carbs.

The valve is closing when not in choke...i think my hair is starting to fall out

 

[georgek1414]

Re: 96 Force 90hp ...is it the starter?

What was it that FIXED the starting problem? You only stated you got it going.

Thanks,
Jake

originally the starter would not completely turn over. i cleaned all of the terminals and connections and it still wasn't turning the flywheel. then with the recommendation of one of our fellow boaters here i removed the pinion gear and cleaned the shaft, and applied a light coat of oil. Once i oiled and put the gear back on i used a ratchet and worked the gear up and down a few times to get it lubed well. turned right over for me after that.

 

[georgek1414]

Re: 96 Force 90hp ...is it the starter?

Well my co-workers brother in-law is coming into town, he is going to take a look at it and give me an expert set of eyes on the problem (he is a marine mechanic). i'll post back once the verdict is in.

 

[georgek1414]

Re: 96 Force 90hp ...is it the starter?

After replacing all of the gaskets in the carbs and resetting the needles it fired right up. Thank you all guys for the advice and help.