1987 85 hp wont go WOT and misses

8

87baylinercapri

Seaman
Joined
Apr 3, 2006
Messages
56
Greetings,

My 1987 85 HP Force has treated me well, however, last time at the lake it started acting up. I was pulling a skier out of the water as usual and all of a sudden it started mis-firing really bad. so i idled back to the dock, checked things over, looks ok. headed back out, and when i had the throttle wide open it only goes slow and sounds like its missing real badly, especially at idle. I put new plugs in and same issue, only tops out at 15 mph instead of the usual 35-40mph. Has NO torque what so-ever. Im running the 50-1 ratio of gas to oil, new plugs, new gas, and tried fuel dri just to make sure. NOTHING helps. Has no power, and you can hear a misfire. I pull the plugs and the #1 plug is COMPLETELY clean like i just put it in there, the other two have more of a gas smell with some traces of oil/gas on them. Really feels like i lost a cylinder.

I did pull all plugs and cranked engine, all three cylinders blew my finger off the hole easily so i do have compression. I havn't done a test to check but they all seem close....Im guessing i lost a coil or some other part. Any ideas on where or how to look? Thanks!
 
roscoe

roscoe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
21,752
Re: 1987 85 hp wont go WOT and misses

Check for spark.
Do a real compression test.
 
8

87baylinercapri

Seaman
Joined
Apr 3, 2006
Messages
56
Re: 1987 85 hp wont go WOT and misses

Im actually very surprised at these compression results. what is a "new" motor suppose to be at exactly? Here's my results..

#1 - 119
#2 - 120
#3 - 118

I then hooked up a timing light to each plug, here's the results

#1 - no spark
#2 - spark
#3 - spark

so basically i got no results from #1 no matter what i tired. no does that mean i have a bad coil? Or could it be something else? If so, where is a good place to get a coil? My local dealer wants 90 bucks for one!!!!
 
Kajun37

Kajun37

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Feb 17, 2006
Messages
348
Re: 1987 85 hp wont go WOT and misses


do you have a picture of your 87 85hp motor? i JUST bought one for $100 at a yard sale about 2 hrs ago lol...but the ID plate is not on the bracket....it has black power packs and coils... i'm thinking its either a 87 or 88...
 
8

87baylinercapri

Seaman
Joined
Apr 3, 2006
Messages
56
Re: 1987 85 hp wont go WOT and misses

if it matters its got two black packs next to each other. and on the left of the mounting plates are the three coils, vertically aligned. it is then attached to the engine via some rubber boots with bolts through them. i will buy that whole assembly off you if your interested in partin it out.
 
Kajun37

Kajun37

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Feb 17, 2006
Messages
348
Re: 1987 85 hp wont go WOT and misses

i doubt if you want these power packs lol they guy said the electrical system is all messed up...no spark at all.....thats why i got it so cheap...i'll prob be looking for same parts you are soon lol
 
baxtr

baxtr

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 16, 2006
Messages
387
Re: 1987 85 hp wont go WOT and misses

is this your coil?


coil.jpg



found at outboardparts.com for $60
 
M

mr angry

Cadet
Joined
Jun 18, 2006
Messages
14
Re: 1987 85 hp wont go WOT and misses

Check the coil is getting low voltage and check for connections on the low voltage side as they are prone to failure.
 
8

87baylinercapri

Seaman
Joined
Apr 3, 2006
Messages
56
Re: 1987 85 hp wont go WOT and misses

unfortunately not,

my coil has an integrated plug wire in the coil, a ground wire coming off the coil and a white wire that goes to one of the powerpacks. no brakets come with the coil it looks like since they all three bolt to this one main braket that also holds the powerpacks. my powerpacks/coils look exactly like the one here >>

00_1.JPG
 
8

87baylinercapri

Seaman
Joined
Apr 3, 2006
Messages
56
Re: 1987 85 hp wont go WOT and misses

where exactly are these connections your speaking of? im going to swap coils and see if i get spark still, if i do then i know its a coil, but if i dont i know the problem is somewhere before the coil.....GRRRR
 
M

mr angry

Cadet
Joined
Jun 18, 2006
Messages
14
Re: 1987 85 hp wont go WOT and misses

You will see low tension wires (thin ones not sure of colours) coming from the rear of the coil these will be sealed into each coil but follow them back looking for breakages and bad joints also check the earth wire has a clean ground.
 
8

87baylinercapri

Seaman
Joined
Apr 3, 2006
Messages
56
Re: 1987 85 hp wont go WOT and misses

those checked out sir, all wires look intact and good. all grounds tight, secure, no corrosion.
 
M

mr angry

Cadet
Joined
Jun 18, 2006
Messages
14
Re: 1987 85 hp wont go WOT and misses

I am slightly puzzled that when you checked the plugs number one was clean as I would have expected it to be wet given that there is no spark in number one.
Try swapping the suspect coil with another and see whether it works on one of the other cylinders. This will tell you whether its the coil thats dodgy or the wiring to it.
 
8

87baylinercapri

Seaman
Joined
Apr 3, 2006
Messages
56
Re: 1987 85 hp wont go WOT and misses

well i dont think its a coil, i beleive it is one of the two powerpacks...(thats what they are called right)...i hooked the #1 coil up to the second coil pack and i got a spark then. seems the first coil pack (closet to the front) is bad. else it could be stator not sending something down. will have to get an ohmeter from my pop to check that. what kind of voltage is sent down from stator to power pack and where is a good place to check to see if it is the stator?

thanks!!!!
 
8

87baylinercapri

Seaman
Joined
Apr 3, 2006
Messages
56
Re: 1987 85 hp wont go WOT and misses

also the suspected coil pack is sending spark to the #2 cyliner not the #1. which is weird. is it possible that part of the power pack module is bad? Or would that suggest the issue is perhaps the stator or trigger module? All wires are connected appropriately.

also seaman thanks for those links, the last one especially, i found EVERYTHING for my motor in there...SWEET!!!
 
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