Replacing a Force L-Drive

[mzmint50]

I have a Force 120hp inboard/outboard which recently overheated-it will still turn over but was told that the powerhead was bad. My question is this-Will a 261-V6 motor fit in same position as the L-drive? I have found a 261-V6 motor much cheaper than getting a remanufactured Force 120hp L-drive powerhead. OR, if any/what V6 might work in replacement of an L-Drive?

 

[Capt Ken]

Re: Replacing a Force L-Drive

You're barking up the wrong tree. I let a customer sneak one of those in on me while I was gone from the shop last week. Tried everything I could to talk him into taking it somewhere else. Told him I couldn't give him a time line on when I was going to be able to start repairing it and didn't have any idea how much but it was not going to be cheap. Dang thing still sitting there. Only thing that's gonna fit in the hole is another Force engine of the same size as the one you remove.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Replacing a Force L-Drive

hey captken. I have 3 customers here with the L-drive. they are wonderful when they work. you want me to refer them to you ?. anyway to answer the question there is no way I know of to reasonably place anything but another L-drive. find the source of the overheat fist and make sure the exhaust hose is not burned.<br /> Good luck and keep us posted on how things are going

 

[Capt Ken]

Re: Replacing a Force L-Drive

That's what happened to this one. The exhaust hose down in the bowels of the bilge is burnt in half. Wouldn't be so bad if all the bolts weren't rusted to half their size. The heads of the bolts on the exhaust are just nubs. I must have been a bad boy in a former life to get this type of punishment.

 

[mzmint50]

Re: Replacing a Force L-Drive

It was just my second outing on this boat and had to be towed back in both times-1st time because the bellow between the upper and lower part of the motor was bad and was taking on water and the battery died. The second time the boat ran like a champ for around 10 miles and then just died. Smoke was coming from the engine compartment(steam actually)-the hot alarm went off prior to shutting down. After allowing it to cool-it tried to crank but alas, even with two batteries in the boat, it wouldn't start. Can this motor be rebuilt or does it sound like the powerhead is shot?

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Replacing a Force L-Drive

Hello<br /> Pay no attention to some techs. the L drive other then having some strange bellows and exhaust hoses wasnt that bad. yes it used a standard force power head. find some one who deals in force outboards. preferably L-drives.find and cure the source of anyoverheat and make sure all the hot horn system works. check the exhaust hose to make sure it was not burnedother then that its a standard 4cyl forece overhaul<br />. good luck and keep us posted

 

[jokey1]

Re: Replacing a Force L-Drive

dont give up on the l-drive. The reason the motor over heated was the bearing on the drive shaft went bad and caused the water pump run not center and it killed every thing. I had the same problem.<br /><br />As for the motor damage check the compression. If it is low pull the head and see the clyinder if they are scored going to have to get it bored and new pistions. <br /><br />If you do most of the work it wont be to bad price wise but if you got to go and have some one do it give up cost will exceed the boat value.<br /><br />I spent about 650 fixing the motor and 300 bucks fixing the l-drive. But I did not over heat it as bad as you did.

 

[mzmint50]

Re: Replacing a Force L-Drive

What is the proper compression? I am getting 120 on each of the 4 cylinders after replacing the head gasket. I have 2 batteries in the boat and just trying to crank it kills the batteries. Also should I replace the impeller? When I took off the head to check the gasket and pistons some water came out, where did this water come from. The pistons and the walls look clean and not scored so I put a new head gasket on and torqued it down. The boat will still not turn over completely but does crank so the compression could be checked. So why does it kill the batteries-maybe a bad power pack?? Hope not-I'd sell the boat first before all that expense. From what I can see it has 4 large power packs and 2 small ones and have priced them and they ain't cheap.