Is 1990 Force 150 Outboard good engine read they are iffy

[volleybiggs]

I am looking at buying a 1990 bayliner with a Force 150 Outboard with Crossfire Fuel Induction for $2500. I have been reading that the 150's had problems. Is there a certain number of hours I should be looking for? I dont know alot about outboards. I have worked on all of my cars starters water pumps etc. Do boat places go over boat engines similar to taking a car to a garage to check it over?
Thanks
Jim

 

[jason32038]

Re: Is 1990 Force 150 Outboard good engine read they are iffy

Number one priority is compression. Then engine could have an hour of use and be destroyed. I'd say 130-150 psi is good...100-120 is ok...90 and below sucks.

 

[Justinde]

Re: Is 1990 Force 150 Outboard good engine read they are iffy

Welcome Volley

Jason is 100%....Compression test first. That will tell you if the internals are ( mostly) ok. Next is spark- check and see that you have good spark. Fuelling is harder to check static out of the water, but there are some great sticky threads on how to do your own mixtures ( link & sync). Any boat/ motor is as good as the owner. You do not know its history, however, if you take care of it, it will take care of you especially if all is well with compression and spark... I honestly do no know of any inherant problems that the 150 had- some of the more senior members here might know what to look for, all I know is that I have a 125 Force, I have and am still having a tinker with it. Parts are available mostly, and its something that with the help of the guys here I have become increasingly confident that I can solve virtually any problem that may come up. You can get your hands dirty and work on it. I bought a compression test kit for $50.00. I would imagine a marine mechanic would give an impartial view on th eoutboard if they did a ' health check' so to speak. There are some good ones out there, no doubt, but I would invest the $50.00 in a compression tester because you can test this boat, and if it's no good, you can go ahead and test the next one. Hope this helps.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Is 1990 Force 150 Outboard good engine read they are iffy

Profile?? Salt water/fresh?
Compressio/spark tests.Then check the oil in the lower.
Compression:The results should be all about the same.Each guage will read different.A good guage will read on that motor about 150# but like I said all guages read different.Look for the same on all cylinders.5% difference is ok.One or two way out say 30-40# difference is bad.
Any metal shavings or water in the oil,bad.
Salt water is a lot tougher on an outboard.
Get a mechanic to look at it,if your worried.
If you do buy geta FACTORY manual.
Post the results.J

Oh yea,I'd buy one.