IS THIS ENGINE WORTH OWNING

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Fish Guts

Recruit
Joined
Jul 25, 2003
Messages
1
I am considering the purchase of a late model 99<br />boat with a Force by Mercury 120 HP motor, I have never owned a Force... Would like some owner input<br />Thanks for your help...
 
T

The Marine Doctor

Commander
Joined
Jul 25, 2003
Messages
2,177
Re: IS THIS ENGINE WORTH OWNING

That engine should be fine as Merc had most if not all the bugs worked out by then.<br /><br />TMD
 
C

catfish1

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 23, 2003
Messages
683
Re: IS THIS ENGINE WORTH OWNING

nothing wrong with a mercury force!(much improved).
 
F

Fouled Plug

Ensign
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Jun 29, 2001
Messages
935
Re: IS THIS ENGINE WORTH OWNING

If it has good compression and operates well on the test drive, go for it! Any Force I've run has been treated to regular decarbs....they seem to gunk up a little quicker than others. Get a manual, and keep on top of the maintenance and you should get a lot of use out of it.
 
roscoe

roscoe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
21,788
Re: IS THIS ENGINE WORTH OWNING

same as above.<br /><br />A 1996 120hp just sold for $2500, on ebay. Can't be too bad if people are still willing to pay that much, sight unseen.
 
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steelespike

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Apr 26, 2002
Messages
19,069
Re: IS THIS ENGINE WORTH OWNING

Ill disagree on a couple of points.While<br />the bugs may or may not have been out at that stage, why would you buy an orphan motor With a well earned shakey reputation no factory parts support and a reputation for low resale value?<br /> Mercury announced some time ago they would no longer do parts support for Force.<br /> The only plus I see is the low price,Is it worth it?
 
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whitehorsemarine

Cadet
Joined
Jun 1, 2003
Messages
9
Re: IS THIS ENGINE WORTH OWNING

Steelespike,<br /> I am the guy that sold the Force 120HP on E-Bay for $2500 (see the post above yours). The fact of the matter is that not everyone has $8K-$12K to spend on an outboard when it could possibly end up being a bad series of detonating-powerhead-prone junk, as well. (Like the 99-2000 Optimax's and Ficht's). We all take our gambles, only some aren't high stakes players. <br /> Force outboards are an excellent outboard for the working man's budget. As long as they are properly maintained, they can last just as long as anything else out there. The whole difference is the high-maintenance, versus low-maintenance. <br /> My wifes new Lexus has it's first major check-up at 110,000 miles. I could 4 Ford Escorts for the price she paid for it. Of course, you aren't going to get a Ford escort that will make it that far without several major check-ups. <br /> Everything is relative, my man. The water isn't birth-righted to the upper-class only. You need to remember that there is 16,000 Bayliners out there for every 1 Boston Whaler.
 
T

The Marine Doctor

Commander
Joined
Jul 25, 2003
Messages
2,177
Re: IS THIS ENGINE WORTH OWNING

TBH...the bugs that may still be in the Force engine of that year...are the bugs that were still alive in most of Mercury's product during that time. The Ignition system. Mechanically the engine should be fine.<br /><br />TMD
 
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steelespike

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Apr 26, 2002
Messages
19,069
Re: IS THIS ENGINE WORTH OWNING

The Escort is one of the best american built <br />small cars.unfortunately a distant 3rd or 4th<br />place from the Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic as<br />far as reliability.<br /> And the Toyota will stay out of the shop as well as the Lexus.<br /> There is no way I could afford a $12,000 motor<br /> either But I would think long and hard<br /> before I would buy an orphan with no factory parts support A dwindling parts supply, and <br />poor resale. Even if it could out perform the big boys. I would take my 50 year old 25 Johnson to a 25 Force in any catagory but MPG.<br /> I had a friend that really liked his Chevette<br />and thought it was a good car.he thought it was <br />normal to add oil every 500 to a 1,000 miles<br /> and do a brake job once a year or about 7,000<br /> miles.Im sure there are lots of folks that like their Force too and may have saved a bundle on the purchase.<br /> Or family has 2 50 hp 88 evinrudes owned since new. Ignored for 15 years with lower unit lube<br />change and new plugs the only maintenance.<br /> And new brushes in one starter the only repair.<br /> One spent every minute of its life outside for<br /> 15 years. the other spent every minute from<br /> April 15th to December 1st outside and the winter in an open shed.Still havent replaced an impeller though Im sure were on borrowed time.<br /> Lucky??? perhaps.
 
M

mantis80

Cadet
Joined
Jul 15, 2003
Messages
22
Re: IS THIS ENGINE WORTH OWNING

Merc still is suppling parts at this time, and I have had great success with finding replacement parts for my 90' L-Drive (******* child of Force). New pistons, gaskets installed earlier...should be on the lake by Friday.
 
J

jrlogan11

Seaman
Joined
Apr 7, 2003
Messages
67
Re: IS THIS ENGINE WORTH OWNING

Everybody has their own opinions about this, so I don't pretend to know any more than the next guy. However, coming straight from a 70 year old boat mechanic that I know well, and who has been working on boats of all types all his life (this guy is a master, other mechanics frequently call him for advice), he is of the opinion that any boat, no matter how old or how new has approximately the same chance of breaking at any moment. I'm not kidding, and from what I've seen in my boats and my friend's, he's basically correct. So brand new, or 25 years old, what really matters is does the engine run now, have good compression, and been maintained. If yes to all 3, then I don't care what kind it is, and that includes bayliner :eek: , if the price is right, buy it. You could just as easily spend a fortune on a newer 'quality' boat or motor and have it break down too.<br /> As for the unmaintained evinrudes above, I think you are lucky. I've seen evinrudes require new lower units after 2 seasons of use _with_ changing the impeller and oil, etc. The problem is that with boats, they don't have the stringent quality controls that they have with cars (toyotas, lexus, even escorts!). They just don't make/sell enough to get to that level of dependability. Think about it, for every person you know who owns a car or two, how many own boats? When the quality controls are lowered, you are going to get lemons mixed in with the rest, it's unavoidable. <br /> The moral of this statement? Boats...break. In fact, that's a redundant statement! :D No seriously, you are gambling the second you buy a boat. They can and will break at any time no matter what you do.<br /> On that wonderfully upbeat note, have fun, and good luck!
 
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steelespike

Supreme Mariner
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Apr 26, 2002
Messages
19,069
Re: IS THIS ENGINE WORTH OWNING

I agree "a boat is a hole in the water into which you throw money"<br /> But Ill say one more time even if breakdowns are roughly even why would you by a motor with<br />no factory parts support,a dwindling parts supply<br /> and a poor resale value.<br /> The NAPA marine catalog has 12 pages of Force<br />parts and 67 pages of E/J parts.<br /> And McCulloch who has been out of business for 30 years has one page.<br /> Im done.
 
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whitehorsemarine

Cadet
Joined
Jun 1, 2003
Messages
9
Re: IS THIS ENGINE WORTH OWNING

I'm not trying to pick a debate, but (once again) parts CAN be ordered directly from Mercury. All Force parts (or the replacements) can be ordered through Mercury Marine. And your J/E stuff needs to be ordered through Bombardier in Canada, not OMC in general. OMC is bankrupt. Bombardier owns the name. If we really want to talk about parentless motors....<br /> Brunswick Marine owns both Mercury and Force and Tracker and Bayliner, Mercruiser, Quicksilver, Maxum, etc. I'd say there is some roots there. Force may be the black sheep of the family, but is definately not a bast*** child.
 
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suzuki40

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Feb 14, 2003
Messages
278
Re: IS THIS ENGINE WORTH OWNING

E E E E EEEEEAASY FELLA'S.........
 
J

jrlogan11

Seaman
Joined
Apr 7, 2003
Messages
67
Re: IS THIS ENGINE WORTH OWNING

Bottom line (until somebody else posts again! :D )<br /><br />If it runs, has good compression, been reasonably maintained and has a good price, then buy it.
 
S

steelespike

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Apr 26, 2002
Messages
19,069
Re: IS THIS ENGINE WORTH OWNING

Mercury is no longer supplying parts unless allready in the system.Motor specific parts are no longer being manufactured.<br />Sure there are aftermarket parts out there and<br />factory parts too "now".<br /> Im pretty sure I can get parts easier and cheaper for my 50 yr old 25 Johnson than for a 10 year old Force.I may not be a Force fan but I<br />am an outboard fan and Im here to help other fans. Ill do my best to guide them along with <br />what ever they have.No opinions unless asked.<br /> Take your last shot, Ill say no more.
 
9

9675hpforce

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jan 26, 2003
Messages
98
Re: IS THIS ENGINE WORTH OWNING

No problem getting parts for mine at mercuryparts.com. Every thing about my motor seems li e a Mercury. Someone mentioned its the same chrysler bloc but i am not so sure. 96 came with special pistons
 
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