Odd problem after choking engine to start

[Karla45]

I have a 1989 85HP Force. Today when I was trying to start the engine in fast idle it would stop turning over after I pushed in on the choke and was more like I had lost power or something, no sound, no nothing when turning the key switch. It was like what happens when you try and start the boat and it is not in neutral. It did this to me several times but not everytime. I just put the lower unit back on last week after replacing some seals. It does not make since to me that if I have ithe shifter in fast idle and push down on the choke that it would stop turning over. I am wondering if I did something wrong when putting the lower back on.

Also, when I would get it started and put it into gear it would keep dieing. I would have to put it into gear really fast to keep it from dying and this did not always work.

 

[TwoFish]

Re: Odd problem after choking engine to start

I may be wrong here Karla but it sounds like a problem with the neutral safety switch. Some motors have them on the gear linkages on the motor. And some have them in the throttle control unit up front. I?m not familiar with your motor. If it is not adjusted correctly it will prevent the starter from working. When you use the fast idle it may move the linkages on the motor or switch in the forward control unit enough to trip the safety switch.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Odd problem after choking engine to start

The neutral safety switch is back on the motor.It has 2 yellow/black leads on the terminals.
It has 2 allenhead set screws.It probably needs to be adjusted.
Stallingrobably low rpm's.Should be about 750-800 in gear,warm and in the water.
On the hose, it's about 1100-1200 in neutral.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Odd problem after choking engine to start

Most likely it is not the neutral safety switch or the engine simply would not turn over at all. I had this problem with a later Force with Mercury ignition. There was a short in the choke wire somewhere between the switch and the engine molded connector. Ultimately I needed to cut out the choke connection and run a separate wire to the switch.

NOW: Since your engine does not have Mercury ignition It will be easier for you to check. Look at the wire where it connects to the choke solenoid. Make sure that the termination is not touching the strap that holds the solenoid. Now check the green wire from the engine terminal to the choke solenoid to be certain it is not frayed and grounding.

If all is well there, it is now time to check the green wire in the cable going to the switch. Look for a short at the engine terminal board or in the wire outside the cable.

Disconnect the wire from the engine terminal and crank with the switch pushed in. If the problem still happens it is either the cable itself or the switch.

Disconnect the green wire from the switch and crank while pushing to choke. If the problem still happens, then the ignition switch is bad.

Note that I worked from the engine forward to the switch. You can start at the switch if it suits you. The main thing is to take a step by step, logical approach.

Stalling when put in gear is almost always a function of idle speed being too low. If you have a tachometer, idle speed should be set to 700-750 RPM in forward gear in the water. This usually is somewhere around 1000 in neutral. Before you go doing anything else though, first put in new sparkplugs. Force engines are notorious for fouling plugs and the first symptom is hard starting and/or stalling when put into gear.

I don't think you can do anything wrong installing a lower unit that will affect the engine in the way you describe.

 

[Karla45]

Re: Odd problem after choking engine to start

Thanks I will check things out & post results.

 

[jason32038]

Re: Odd problem after choking engine to start

Could be a few things. I ran into this problem right before I winterized and stored my boat. I did notice a broken connection on the ignition switch but I dont believe the switch was the main issue. Reason...I disconnected all wires from igniton switch and touched the appropriate wires together to choke and start and still nothing. Everything was fine before I cleaned and rinsed powerhead with "green" acidic citrus cleaner. I suspect the positive cable has corroded either at the battery or the powerhead....reason..I touched only positive from battery with jumper cable on choke connection and it worked...I also cranked and started the engine with the jumper cables directly on the starter cable. Check all electrical connections.

 

[Karla45]

Re: Odd problem after choking engine to start

Well I got the chance to check my boat out today and started it on the muffs and everytime I put it into gear it does just fine and does not stall. I had tested it before I took it out last time and I do not understand why it does just fine on the muffs but in the water it stalls and is harder to start.

Also, I am now having a little bit of hard time getting it into nuetral in order to start before sometimes I would have to shake the shifter a little to get it to pop into neutral now I am having to either move the handle in reverse or forward and then back in order to get it into neutral position. I am thinking that my adjusment may be a little off but not sure if I need to lengthen the rod and shorten it. I did check to make sure that the terminatiion was not touching the strap for the choke solenoid and it was fine.

 

[jason32038]

Re: Odd problem after choking engine to start

Mine has the 1 piece rod and all I did was bottom it in until I couldnt turn it by hand and slightly backed it out until the holes lined up to hook up to the upper shift system. I'm still lost about the lenghten the rod or shorten it thing to adjust. It seems to me that the 2 piece shift rod should be bottomed out and tight with eachother and all adjustments made on the shift pivot under the powerhead like the one piece. Maybe all you need to do is tighten the rod to the other end of the rod completely to get back to your original setting? Or if not make your rod adjustments until your neutral safety button is pressed in by the thingy on the other thingy IF you had no problems with shifting before your LU removal. I dont know but that's what I would have tried first. Also..it might be harder to start in the water if you're stuck in gear if you're still having adjustment issues.