Need advice fast on Force 120

[flaboy]

I am going to buy a '98 Palm Beach 18CC with a '98 120 force engine tomorrow. You guys have scared the crap out me with the force motor. The boat is $8,600 out the door. Should I walk away and pay 3K more? Please help fast... I know nothing about motors. I was told it was completely a Merc. Motor has 50 Hrs on it.

 

[Fouled Plug]

Re: Need advice fast on Force 120

Don't be spooked by Force motors. If well maintained, they can be reliable and long-lived. Get a compression test, and check the gearcase lube. If the previous owner took care of it and it runs well on the test drive, make your decision. I'd be inclined to run a really good 2 stroke oil and a decarb/ring free additive if you buy it. Check the NADA blue book on the package, and you'll see if the price is as good as you can get.

 

[12Footer]

Re: Need advice fast on Force 120

The only reason there are no 2002 Force engines, is because of new emissions standards set in place in Jan2000 by the feds. Merc (the builders) was "forced" withg the decission of completely re-designing and re-tooling the entire line of Force engines to meet these new standards, or drop them..<br />They madfe the only choice they really could, and dropped them.<br />They are reliable old-tech engines,but dirty runners. You are looking at a 98? I'm running an 89...So don't let that bother you. <br />In addition to what Fouled Plug advised you on, take the cover off, and look for any rusty streaks, missing or blistered paint (a sign of overheating in it's history).

 

[DJ]

Re: Need advice fast on Force 120

flaboy,<br /><br />The only thing that is Merc. is the lower unit and electronics. 12 Footer gave very good advice. They tend to run dirty and require decarb. more often than most engines. If you run a good quality oil, it will help. Get compression readings, watch them do it, they should be within 10% of each other. Watch them pull the lower unit lower plug. Have them put on a new seal when they do it too.<br /><br />The Palm Beach is a decent boat for the money, I owned a 19 Baydancer and sold it for what I paid for it two years later. Their deep V's perform better than mine did.<br /><br />That's a good price. Your right, a different engine will be at least 3 G's more. The Force with good care will serve you well.

 

[flaboy]

Re: Need advice fast on Force 120

Thanks to everyone for the info, I don't have a clue as to what I'm doing. Let you know what the outcome is..... If the salesman tries to give me a peck on the cheek after I have signed, I'll know it's to late

 

[flaboy]

Re: Need advice fast on Force 120

What brand is really good oil? And what decarbing product should I use?

 

[12Footer]

Re: Need advice fast on Force 120

Oil? Oh man, don't go there LOL. Just do a search here on "2Cycle oil" or "TC-W3 oil" and trun the TV off..The debate rages-on. But nobody has yet said anything bad about Quicksilver, WalMart's Tech2000 or supertech brands. Just make sure it has "TCW3" and "NMMA Certified" on the lable.

 

[Hooty]

Re: Need advice fast on Force 120

Hey flaboy,<br />Use Mercury, OMC, Yamaha, etc. major engine mfg. brands of lubes and decarb stuff and ya can't go wrong.<br />Have a good time &<br /><br />c/6 <br /><br />Hooty

 

[fishthebay]

Re: Need advice fast on Force 120

I prefer Quicksilver and have had no problems using this oil.<br /><br />I have an 87 85HP Force and it have given me no trouble in the 4 years I have owned it.<br /><br />Routine maintanence is needed like lower unit oil change, decarb, fuel hoses, filter cleaning etc..<br /><br />12 Footer is the best Force man and have saved me a lot of dough.

 

[my new fishmaster]

Re: Need advice fast on Force 120

Yeah as far I know the 98 would be all Mercury like my 96 75hpforce. They are good motors dont let people scare you. It helped when buying my starcrafts the new crestliner dealer said we wont take force trade ins. Ha its a better boat pkg then there $17k boat. Be aware the fuel systems on used outboards go bad alot. Figure some parts will need replacment.