Are Force O/B worth the $$$ ?

[americanmcss]

Re: Are Force O/B worth the $$$ ?

Well this was the kind of info I was looking for. If I find one I want to pull the trigger on, I know what to look for.

Another Question: My brother and I were looking at an older Bayliner with a Merc 1150 on it. We hooked it up to the flusher in the driveway and it started spitting water before the thing ran. Is this a common thing? I'm a little more accustomed to I/O where they wont suck water through the engine until its running. Since it would pump water after it was running we took it out on the local lake and drove it around for a while. After about 20 min the engine overheated and quit because I assume it stopped pumping water. Luckily we had our minn kota with us to get back to shore. How can you tell for sure that the impeller is working properly before you dump it in a lake?

 

[emoney]

Re: Are Force O/B worth the $$$ ?

The best way is to get an Infra-Red Digital Thermometer and shoot a temp reading on the heads both before and after the T-stats should be opening. There's no way to guarantee it won't "stop" pumping water once you get it on the lake, but at least you'll know for sure it IS pumping before you leave. As for the "water before you started it", sounds like you were pushing too much pressure. Enough pressure and the water has to go somewhere, so if it's not cooling, it's got to come back out. On some older motors, the factory didn't install a "tell-tale", so subsequent owners may have. If that's the case, you don't know for sure where they placed the tell tale in the water flow system. Hence, water comes out before the motor starts.

OH, and Carl, two can play at that game;

That video is only about 3700 RPM @ cruising speed, not WOT (Yes, it's a video just click the picture)

 

[pnwboat]

Re: Are Force O/B worth the $$$ ?

I'm going out on a limb here because I'm not as familiar with the Mercs as I am with the Force motors, but.....I would think that if the impeller was in one piece, it will not allow any water to get past it and exit via the tell tale. If you're seeing water exit the tell tale with flusher and without the motor running, the impeller is most likely bad.

 

[catfishcarl99]

Re: Are Force O/B worth the $$$ ?

I'm going out on a limb here because I'm not as familiar with the Mercs as I am with the Force motors, but.....I would think that if the impeller was in one piece, it will not allow any water to get past it and exit via the tell tale. If you're seeing water exit the tell tale with flusher and without the motor running, the impeller is most likely bad.

ya think thats correct. its a rubber fan. and seals up the housing. not positive but i wouldnt think tell tales would flow without it running unless the impeller was missing some fins.


EMONEY nice machine. runs good. seen another older force 85 at the dock wed as i was heading out. and funny thing he was helping another fella try and diagnose his motor. lol. fix lil issues before they become catostrophic. theres a lot of folks that buy older motors and blow them up cause they cannot change an impeller. then the brand becomes JUNK in there conversations. i dont take my trucks to shops either. i fix them. just had to put my second alternator on my 98 f-150 tuesday. 200,000+ still going.

im such a liar.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Are Force O/B worth the $$$ ?

Newer Force engines with semi-keystone top rings do tend to break the top ring for no reason. Those models with square tipped reed petals also tend to break reed petals more than round tipped reeds.

Ignition systems are relatively trouble free compared to other brands--that is they do not fail more frequently. Mercury ignition equipped models do produce a bit more power than prestolite ignitions.

The engines are intolerant of lean running and will melt pistons due to detonation.

However: Maintain them, keep oil ratio at 50-1, and don't run them lean, and they may just outlive you.

One thing to remember: Because of the "Boat Anchor" reputation (Which is akin to Ford: Fix Or Repair Daily) You get a lot more bang for your buck. You really only need to look at individual engines with a discerning eye and only consider obviously good ones. As far as Bayliner hulls on which Force engines are mounted: In early years Bayliner was an entry level boat with poor quality control and a deserved bad reputation. In the 1980s, quality improved and later Bayliners are acceptable quality. Personally, I think they are good-looking hulls but my taste runs to other brands.

Here are a couple of my Chrysler and Force engines (Chrysler begat Force with only minor changes). They have had a couple of problems but none has left me on the water. In fact, I usually tow others. Last two photos are 60 MPH Force 125.

 

[catfishcarl99]

Re: Are Force O/B worth the $$$ ?

Newer Force engines with semi-keystone top rings do tend to break the top ring for no reason. Those models with square tipped reed petals also tend to break reed petals more than round tipped reeds.

Ignition systems are relatively trouble free compared to other brands--that is they do not fail more frequently. Mercury ignition equipped models do produce a bit more power than prestolite ignitions.

The engines are intolerant of lean running and will melt pistons due to detonation.

However: Maintain them, keep oil ratio at 50-1, and don't run them lean, and they may just outlive you.

One thing to remember: Because of the "Boat Anchor" reputation (Which is akin to Ford: Fix Or Repair Daily) You get a lot more bang for your buck. You really only need to look at individual engines with a discerning eye and only consider obviously good ones. As far as Bayliner hulls on which Force engines are mounted: In early years Bayliner was an entry level boat with poor quality control and a deserved bad reputation. In the 1980s, quality improved and later Bayliners are acceptable quality. Personally, I think they are good-looking hulls but my taste runs to other brands.

Here are a couple of my Chrysler and Force engines (Chrysler begat Force with only minor changes). They have had a couple of problems but none has left me on the water. In fact, I usually tow others. Last two photos are 60 MPH Force 125.

that last pic brings jaws to mind. "your gonna need a bigger boat" lol. cool images you got on that engine. them decals???

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Are Force O/B worth the $$$ ?

To test for overheat in the drive:
Start it on the muffs.
Then as it runs,touch the head in different spots.
It shouldn't be so hot you can't touch it.
It will be hot but not so bad you burn.
To hot too touch?Then replace the thermostat and the impeller.

Or if your rich like Eric buy a heat gun(maybe I'll get one from Santa)

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Are Force O/B worth the $$$ ?

Yep, Catfish, they are decals. I get them at print shops that make auto decals and wraps. in this size, about 16 X 24 inches, they cost about 75 bucks for a mirror image pair.

 

[catfishcarl99]

Re: Are Force O/B worth the $$$ ?

cool frank. i like em.

ya jerrys correct. mine i can place my hand on the head whens it running for quite some time without burning.

 

[emoney]

Re: Are Force O/B worth the $$$ ?

"..rich like Eric" Frank's the rich one, he's the guy that has the fancy decals. Mine are peeling off. And this coming from the guy who just decides on a whim to head out and go scalloping 1/2 across the country because they're not fresh enough at the grocery (buwahahaha).

Harbor Freight is your friend. Don't resist the siren call that is Harbor Freight. Oh, you may have to throw away a few tools here and there, but for the most part.....

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Are Force O/B worth the $$$ ?

Big fan of Harbor Freight!!

That scallop trip cost me $100

 

[RRitt]

Re: Are Force O/B worth the $$$ ?

so you live in Washington State, eh?

If it is a saltwater engine of any brand then do not buy it for any price. If the owner claims it is freshwater then inspect closely for any white residue. If you see even a tiny speck of whiteness then run away as if it has the plague. However much of that white residue you can see with your eyes there will be 10x more buried in the threads.

 

[afarrens]

Re: Are Force O/B worth the $$$ ?

so you live in Washington State, eh?

If it is a saltwater engine of any brand then do not buy it for any price. If the owner claims it is freshwater then inspect closely for any white residue. If you see even a tiny speck of whiteness then run away as if it has the plague. However much of that white residue you can see with your eyes there will be 10x more buried in the threads.

There are zero used "freshwater" boats only in the west side of Washington state. Anyone that tries to sell you a boat and claim that is yanking your chain. But your correct, a properly used boat will still have no "white residue". In my opinion.