PLEASE HELP! 125 FORCE WATER PRESSURE ?'S

[FIRSTBOAT]

Hi Everyone,<br /><br />I really need some knowledgable FORCE owners here.<br /><br />I just bought a 1986 Bayliner Capri with a 125 FORCE motor. (I am learning fast about the problems) <br /><br />I was told by MANY people to check the water pressure first before taking it out. I purchased a water pressure gauge and connected it to the water plug on top of the motor (silver plug right above Thermastat housing)<br /><br />Whith the motor at idle there is little or no water coming out of the hole EVEN with the thermostat removed. My father and some others on this site told me to replace the impeller. I just replaced that (MADE SURE I PUT IT IN CORRECTLY) and it still has little or no pressure at idle. At about mid throttle, I get MAYBE about 5PSI on the gauge. I checked the lower unit and it is clear from anything blocking the incoming holes and I checked the thermostat opening and it is clear. I blew air up the Impeller tube and it is clear. WHAT GIVES? I am starting to wonder if FORCE motors run at REALLY LOW pressure. Any help would be sooooo appreciated as I have spent about 10 hours on this problem now and am ready to be comitted.<br /><br />Thanks.<br /><br />Tony

 

[revertmastec]

Re: PLEASE HELP! 125 FORCE WATER PRESSURE ?'S

Firstboat,<br /><br /> How are you running the engine? Do you have muffs on, Test tank or in the Lake? If you are running with muffs on be careful. It's very hard to get a good seal. I have a 86 125 and what i do is is put the muffs on and then stick the lower unit in a container full of water. You can buy some real heavy tape and tape the sides of the muffs so you dont lose any water that way. My point is if you are not getting a good seal you will not get the cooling water you need. If you are using a test tank make sure the water level is above the water pump. It is hard to prime if the water level is below. My motor at idle will spit water out the back at idle. It is never a steady stream. I do not know what the water pressure should be I only have a temp gauge and that is between 110 and 125 degrees depending how hard i am running. <br /><br />Good Luck

 

[FIRSTBOAT]

Re: PLEASE HELP! 125 FORCE WATER PRESSURE ?'S

Thanks for the info, I am running it with the round ear muffs. I dont have a tank or bucket that will fit.<br /><br />I want to put a temp gauge on the motor, how would I go about doing that? Any idea which one to pick up?<br /><br />Also, my motor is running a little rough, where should I start?

 

[FIRSTBOAT]

Re: PLEASE HELP! 125 FORCE WATER PRESSURE ?'S

Thought i should give more info on the rough motor issue...<br /><br />Heres what I have done so far:<br /><br />1. Replaced Impeler-Impeller housing and gasket. Also replaced shaft seal on impeller housing.<br /><br />2. Replaced spark plugs.<br /><br />3. Cleaned carb bowls, there was some build up in the bowls.<br /><br />4. I am using premium gasoline 91 Octane.<br /><br />Any ideas what else I should do. The motor has been sitting for two years IN STORAGE covered and it is running a rough. I havent taken it out to the water yet to see if it will clear out. Is there something else I should try.

 

[Bry21317]

Re: PLEASE HELP! 125 FORCE WATER PRESSURE ?'S

I have an 88 Force 125hp. I would recommend using a can of Sea Foams, Deep Creep decarbonizer. It was recommended on this site and I used it, it made the boat run like a new boat after that. You just spray it in the Carborators and then let it sit for about 15 mins, then crank it up, but watch out for the smoke, it will look like your house is on fire. But then it will clean out the extra carbon buildup, then you will run much better.<br /><br />My water sprays ok, barely sprays out when attached to the hose. I purchased a large plaster rubber maid storage bin that I can put the lower unit into, and fill full of water while the muffs are on and it will get more water. I have noticed on the drive way no matter how much you tweak it, it will run different in the lake, due to the back pressure on the engine. I am able to get a very strong stream of water when in the lake.<br /><br />Check your throttle linkage at the back of the engine, I found that this was giving me problems so that the Carbs wouldn't open to WOT. The connector that is mounted to the steel nipple on the back right side of the engine (when looking at the engine) should have a spring loaded cable on it. Make sure that when you press the throttle all the way to WOT, the carbs open all the way up, if not you need to play with the Syncronization and tie rod that allow this to happen.<br /><br />I have a clymers manual and it is very good on describing everything on this engine. I am not a fan of clymer to much, but this manual was worth it, as I do all the work to it myself.<br /><br />You should be running about 4250-5250 RPMS with this engine. My force now runs like a new engine, I was ready to sell it, but after I got some extra things into it, it now runs like a scalded dog. No matter what people say, if you take care of this engine it will last for a long time. I have had mine for about 4 years, and never a problem with the engine, other than cleaning the carbs and the Tilt and Trim, is the weak link.<br /><br />Hope this helps.<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Bryan Cox

 

[revertmastec]

Re: PLEASE HELP! 125 FORCE WATER PRESSURE ?'S

Firstboat,<br /><br /> First things first. Since you are new here It will be much easier for the pros on this board to help you if you stick to one thread for each problem. You have an earlier thread that bry responded to about your rough running. We will deal with your water pressure here. IF 12footer is out there he will give you some good advice. He seems to be the pro on Force motors. As far as your temp sensor goes I mounted mine on a Z-bracket right to a head bolt. It makes it a contact sensor and is very accurate. If you do a search here for temp. senders I am sure you will find the web site. I also have a rubbermaid storage bin( stole it from the wife ) seems to work well for running in the driveway. I have those same round muffs and they arn't worth sh..<br />Try taping them on or get yourself a bucket you will see what Bry and I are talking about it makes a big difference.

 

[C17LoadSmasher]

Re: PLEASE HELP! 125 FORCE WATER PRESSURE ?'S

I used to have an 87 Force 125 and I never really had much of a problem with running it with the muffs on. In the water however, it's just a spray out the two water ports, but at throttle it was often two solid cores of water. I never had it overheat (the alarm never went off anyways). It ran fine, I just had to replace the rectifier once and calibrate the throttle linkage.

 

[lonewolf5347]

Re: PLEASE HELP! 125 FORCE WATER PRESSURE ?'S

FIRSTBOAT:YOU CAN INSTALL A SENDING UNIT THAT WILL READ SURFACE TEMP. EASY TO INSTALL.I HAVE A FORCE 120HP. THAT RUNS AT 110 DEGREES SURFACE TEMP.HOOK UP TO A FARIA TEMP. GAUGE.

 

[Bry21317]

Re: PLEASE HELP! 125 FORCE WATER PRESSURE ?'S

Another thing that works good to hold the Muffs on is a bungy cord. I take about two and rap them very tightly around then it holds the muffs on pretty good, less trouble than tape.<br /><br />Bryan

 

[PMH]

Re: PLEASE HELP! 125 FORCE WATER PRESSURE ?'S

I have an '86 Force 125 and it spits out water just fine with the muffs on. Granted, it does spit out a greater amount of water when the boat is actually in the water.<br /><br />Hey C17, you say that when on the throttle your '86 Force 125 shoots out streams of water? Well I might be on trouble if that's the case. My force shoots out less and less water the higher the rpm's. I've been told that the water goes out the bottom. At 4000 rpm, no water comes out from the 2 holes. But it sprays great at idle.<br /><br />Also, the engine will overheat if pushed above 4,000 for more than a few minutes. I've got a clogged over-flow valve. The valve is on the "port" side of the engine below the water jacket. I removed and replaced the valve, but the water passage going from it is stopped up solid. <br /><br />The funny thing is that it will run for hours at 4,000 rpms. But as soon as you go a few hundred over ..... the buzzer sounds.<br /><br />Thanks!<br />Patrick<br /><br />'86 Force 125<br />18ft. Bayliner Capri

 

[Bry21317]

Re: PLEASE HELP! 125 FORCE WATER PRESSURE ?'S

Patrick,<br />I would say that you've got a problem. I think if I'm correct, that when you are idling or going slow the impellar actually pushes the water up the cooling system tubes, using one type. I forget the name, then when it is turning faster, the fins actually bend inward more and are not touching the metal housing, this then makes for a different type of pump. One of them is called a centrifugel pump, I beleive, I don't remember which one this is (I'm sure someone else on here will know though). Which then pressurizes the water up the tube for more water to shoot out of the pee holes. <br /><br />I can run mine all day long at 4800 RPM and take the cover off and put my hand on the engine, and its not to hot that I pull it off by reflex. I do shoot a much better stream when I get running faster than I do when putting around.<br /><br />I would check your impellar, and make sure it is working and all the seals around it are ok. <br /><br />Bryan

 

[12Footer]

Re: PLEASE HELP! 125 FORCE WATER PRESSURE ?'S

Bryan is correct. The impeller acts like a posative-displacement pump when idling. When you open her up, the vanes tuck-in, and it acts like a centrifugal pump.<br />An impeller should pump well enough at idle to keep it as cool as when you are wound-out. If not, replace the impeller, regardless of how good it looks...It's fixing to fail.<br />Impellers allways look great,until they fly apart.If you had to change-out an impeller that has allready desintegrated, you got major problems, because the pieces of the grenaded impeller are all over the inside of you motor.<br />Finally, nothing isc as good an indicator of heat distribution,than that outlined by Bryan..The old hand on the head trick.It's the best way to find "hot spots" caused by plugged ports (with the little pieces of impeller plugging them,or corroded shut).<br />A tip..If you find one of those thermometer meat fork or spatulas for a cheap enough price, take it appart, glue the metal sensor tips on the block (sing JB-WELD, Marine-Tex , or other heat resistant epoxy) and the "gauge" in any convienient place to be able to read it..They werk great.

 

[PMH]

Re: PLEASE HELP! 125 FORCE WATER PRESSURE ?'S

Thanks for the help Bry and 12Footer!<br /><br />I've had this motor for several years now and its never shot water out the back holes when cruising. I replaced the Impeller about a year ago because I was getting poor water flow at idle. It shoots out fine now at idle. But doesn't shoot anything when actually cruising. <br /><br />So, If I have blockage, why would the pump work at idle and not at cruise?<br /><br />When on the muffs at idle, water comes out from two places: 1) water spits out from the two holes up top; and 2) water streams out with the exhaust above the prop. Is this normal at idle?<br /><br />I was told a while ago that more and more water flows out the bottom with the exhaust when the rpm's are raised. Is this incorrect?<br /><br /> <br /><br />Thanks!<br />Patrick

 

[FIRSTBOAT]

Re: PLEASE HELP! 125 FORCE WATER PRESSURE ?'S

Just wanted to THANK everyone that has responded on this board. You guys really know your FORCE stuff. I have done everything everyone has mentioned and my engine seems to have pressure and to be running alot better now. I am taking it out this weekend. Wish me luck!!<br /><br />Thank You for your help.

 

[revertmastec]

Re: PLEASE HELP! 125 FORCE WATER PRESSURE ?'S

May the FORCE be with you. <br /><br />Good Luck