Force L-Drive Low Power/Low Compression

dave1979

Recruit
Joined
Jun 15, 2008
Messages
5
I've got a late '80s Bayliner Capri with a 2-stroke L-Drive I/O motor. I should have never bought the stupid thing, but I'm into it for $1200 and would like to at least get it running well so Ican sell it for what I bought it for. I don't want to dump it on someone else unless it works or they know what they're getting.

I've got compression as follows: (from top to bottom) 0,105,110, 65. How involved is the fix for this? Is there a test that I can do to see if it's the piston rings or the reed valves or something else? Also, any good places to get parts for this lemon?

Thanks...
 

thumpar

Admiral
Joined
Jun 21, 2007
Messages
6,138
Re: Force L-Drive Low Power/Low Compression

Even with very very badly worn rings you should not get 0 unless your guage is just not measuring low enough. Is that piston even moving?
 

dave1979

Recruit
Joined
Jun 15, 2008
Messages
5
Re: Force L-Drive Low Power/Low Compression

The piston does move. I'm going to squirt some oil into the plug hole and see what happens...
 

steelespike

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Apr 26, 2002
Messages
19,069
Re: Force L-Drive Low Power/Low Compression

Ouch!I'm no expert but if you do it right your self your probably out another 5 or $600 bucks.
 

dave1979

Recruit
Joined
Jun 15, 2008
Messages
5
Re: Force L-Drive Low Power/Low Compression

Yeah, I pulled the upper carb and found two #$%#ing wood screws behind it that had been somehow dumped in there. Yay. That might explain the low compression in #1. Maybe the third screw made it through and beat the heck out of that piston. The front of that spark plug looked like someone had dropped it into their garbage disposal. In other news, #4 bumped up when I put oil in the bore, so it's likely a ring problem there.

Can pistons even be bought for this thing? I listed it for $1000 (a $200 loss) on Craigslist after I found the screws. It still runs and cruises at about 20-22mph on the lake, so maybe someone can make use of it.

Is there some sort of junkyard for these things where parts can be salvaged?
 

steelespike

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Apr 26, 2002
Messages
19,069
Re: Force L-Drive Low Power/Low Compression

Parts are out there I don't have a clue on where but one of the force guys may be along with info.Hopefully you can find someone looking for a project.
 
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