1996 Force 120 HP

[Charles T.]

I have a 1996 Force 120 thats came on my 96' 185 FS. I have never had any trouble out of the engine untill this past weekend. My son and I launched the boat, it cranked on the 1st try. My son backed off the trailer went out opened it up full throttle to warm it up as I went to park the trailer. When my son picked me up at the ramp we managed to go maybe 100 yards before the engine started losing power and sputtering. Initially I suspected bad gas or my fuel pump/ diaphram as in the past. I took it to my son's mechanic and he did a compression test, as well as checked the fuel pump, and carbs. He initially said it was hitting 2 & 4 at the same time and thought maybe it was the trigger or stator/power pack? Long story short my son's mechanic put used parts on it to see if he could isolate the problem. No luck. Any one have a clue as to what this could be? Ran like a top for maybe 10 minutes then left us dead in the water. Just turns over and pops? Thanks

 

[fatrap]

This sounds far fetched but maybe the crankshaft broke. Many years ago I had a Chrysler 50hp and I hit a dredge line and the engine over revved and the crank broke. It shouldn't have but Chrylser fixed it for free paying the labor and everything. Anyway it did exactly what your describing. It ran and started great but add power and sputter and pop.

fatrap

 

[Scott Hammer TOXIC]

My son backed off the trailer went out opened it up full throttle to warm it up

Dude, that is wrong on so many levels!! I would assume that is the cause of your problem.



TOXIC

 

[Charles T.]

My son didn't open the engine up in reverse. he eased off the trailer, switched to forward and went out a few hundred yards to warm the engine up while I went to park. Also nothing was hit by the prop in the water such as dredge lines???

 

[Scott Hammer TOXIC]

What I was concerned with is that he opened it up full throttle BEFORE it had a chance to warm up. SOP is to let your motor run 5-10 min. and make sure it has pressure before dropping the hammer. Even in summer. I'm no mechanic and I'll let those more motor inclined give you some tips. I would check the compression on each cyl.



TOXIC

 

[mike chip]

i second what toxic said, never run an engine hard cold,,, UNLESS you plan on replacing it.

mike c