Force 90 starts, but stalls as soon as it's in gear, with load. Water in cylinder?

[royal-direct]

1990 Bayliner Capri w/ Force 90 outboard.
Seemed to have low power when driving for last half hour, then stalled, and wouldnt start. It will start throttled up, in neutral, but will stall if put into gear.
There seemed to be water dripping from bottom of black metal housing which the three sparks plugs screw into (but not from sparkplugs' hole).
There seemed to be a little more white smoke than normal.
On land, with garden hose, I checked and cleaned plugs, and mistakenly left wire off of bottom plug, and started up and tried foreward and reverse. No load, but it functioned, but this is with no bottom spark apparently? Connecting the third plug, after realizing my mistake, made no change in anything.
I'm guessing that I'm running on two cylinders, because somehow water in the bottom cylinder? is this correct? Where could the water be leaking into that compartment from? Any ideas on a solution?T hank You for reading...

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Force 90 starts, but stalls as soon as it's in gear, with load. Water in cylinder

Have to do a compression/spark test and post your results.
The water jacket probably needs a new gasket.
Ran in fresh or salt water?Profile?J

 

[royal-direct]

Re: Force 90 starts, but stalls as soon as it's in gear, with load. Water in cylinder

It's a 17'6" Bayliner Capri, with '90 Force 90, freshwater lakes only. I'm not an expert, and the only abnormal thing I know for sure is that there is water dripping from the black plate's bottom, the plate which three spark plugs screw into. The spark plugs spark, and I dont know how to compression test, but will end up taking it in for repair if this is something that I could solve myself. Of course I would like to try to fix at home, what do I need to do?

 

[royal-direct]

Re: Force 90 starts, but stalls as soon as it's in gear, with load. Water in cylinder

Problem was compression in 1 and 3 cylinder. Need to replace those pistons apparently. Any advise is appreciated

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Force 90 starts, but stalls as soon as it's in gear, with load. Water in cylinder

What's wrong?Pics? Water from that plate is a bad seal and an easy fix.
Compression and bad pistons is another.J

 

[royal-direct]

Re: Force 90 starts, but stalls as soon as it's in gear, with load. Water in cylinder

can i change cylinder from here? or do I have to take off powerhead.? Also, how to I take off the two star headed screws that hold the rod to the shaft? (visible in the reed valve hole)