What steps to get Force 120 running after sitting 3 yrs

[Starcraft1709owner]

Hi everyone - my first post. I just bought a Starcraft 17' Fish & Ski with a Force 120 hp, each is a 1997. The motor was fogged, lower unit oil changed and the gas treated in fall 2009, not run since. It was stored outdoors with motor in trailering position. What steps do you suggest I take before firing it up? I am a 20+ year boater with a lot of (limited) experience maintaining two stroke outboards.

Please share your thoughts!

 

[86 century]

Re: What steps to get Force 120 running after sitting 3 yrs

Welcome aboard

1st pull the plugs spray wd40 in the holes(or your choice of oil)roll over by hand a few times and repeat.

2nd wile the oil is setting for a few check the lube in the lower unit.

3rd ground plug wires crank over with starter to clear oil in cly.

4th run compression test(to make sure you are not wasting money going further)

5th clean carbs

6th replace impeller

Fire it up

 

[JB]

Re: What steps to get Force 120 running after sitting 3 yrs

http://forums.iboats.com/engine-fre...kening-sleeping-outboard-boatbuoy-158086.html

 

[Jiggz]

Re: What steps to get Force 120 running after sitting 3 yrs

Welcome aboard

1st pull the plugs spray wd40 in the holes(or your choice of oil)roll over by hand a few times and repeat.

2nd wile the oil is setting for a few check the lube in the lower unit.

3rd ground plug wires crank over with starter to clear oil in cly.

4th run compression test(to make sure you are not wasting money going further)

5th clean carbs

6th replace impeller

Fire it up

Instead of checking gear lube oil, replace it. Instead of checking plugs, replace them. Definitely need to open and inspect the carbs.

 

[Starcraft1709owner]

Re: What steps to get Force 120 running after sitting 3 yrs

Hi guys - got her running today! I had my neighbor...boat mechanic...check it over, take a whiff of the gas, we checked the lower unit oil, pulled the plugs (brand new), and put 5 gals of fresh non ethanol gas/oil mix in the tank. I took it to the ramp, she fired up after a few seconds of cranking. She idles well, revs up nicely, pumps water well, etc. I am pleased. The previous owner is a good friend and everything he said he did to it was legit. I greased it and will winterize this week. Thanks for the info!

 

[etracer68]

Re: What steps to get Force 120 running after sitting 3 yrs

I think I would have pumped out old gas, before adding new gas. The water pump impeller should be changed out too. Does the fuel system have a water separator, if it does, replace it too, or add one. Have you done a load test in the water? Theres a big differance under normal load then just in water tub, or muffs. Was a compression test done?

 

[Starcraft1709owner]

Re: What steps to get Force 120 running after sitting 3 yrs

Hi etracer - I did test under a slight load. I may take it out this week for a quick run if weather permits. The motor only has 50-60 hrs on it and I suggested a compression test to my mechanic and he didn't believe it was necessary. Water pumps good out of the relief port and streamer. I will check the fuel filter, not sure if it is water separating, but I did put Startron in with the fresh fuel. Thanks for the info.

 

[Jiggz]

Re: What steps to get Force 120 running after sitting 3 yrs

Water impellers tend to get brittle after a while regardless if its is in use or not. typically, the recommendation is to replaced it every year although I tend to do it every other years but do an annual inspection. Anyways, the very reason for this is to reduce chance of failure while in the middle of the ocean or river or lake. Because when that happens the consequential damage could be catastrophic and or the towing cost will be also much higher than a new impeller. Personally, I'll take my chances on any other parts except the water impeller, it is just too important. And what is really, really very sad is if the impeller fails at high speed, it will be very hard to hear the hi-temp alarm especially if you have music in the background. And by the time you discover the failure, other serious damages could have been done. Of course, that is just my personal thing.

 

[catfishcarl99]

Re: What steps to get Force 120 running after sitting 3 yrs

Water impellers tend to get brittle after a while regardless if its is in use or not. typically, the recommendation is to replaced it every year although I tend to do it every other years but do an annual inspection. Anyways, the very reason for this is to reduce chance of failure while in the middle of the ocean or river or lake. Because when that happens the consequential damage could be catastrophic and or the towing cost will be also much higher than a new impeller. Personally, I'll take my chances on any other parts except the water impeller, it is just too important. And what is really, really very sad is if the impeller fails at high speed, it will be very hard to hear the hi-temp alarm especially if you have music in the background. And by the time you discover the failure, other serious damages could have been done. Of course, that is just my personal thing.

couldnt agree more. mine went out a few years back. alarm wanst working. cooked head paint and engine died. blew head gasket. thankfully no other damage was done. still running great after the new head gasket i got from here. now i have a new alarm as well as a red warning light hooked to buzzer so i have visual and audio alarms. impellers are cheap. replace if its sat 3 seasons. just a good habit to get used to. it may be pumping up a storm at the dock. but fail shortly after taking off. rubber thats dry like that for 3 years can become cracked or hardened. either isnt good when its cooling your engine.

 

[Starcraft1709owner]

Re: What steps to get Force 120 running after sitting 3 yrs

Thanks, guys. I will check into that. However, my boat guy, who I trust and has serviced outdrives and outboards for 40 years, claims it is not necessary. I have let old outboards sit for years when I was a kid and never have had a pump fail. The one outboard I did have that didnt pump water was a Gamefisher 9.9 that I bought new in 2006 (it was a 1996) and had never been run. I replaced the impeller on that one. Do you just drop the lower unit, pull the impeller and replace with a new one on this Force 120? It has the Mercury lower unit.