98 force 120 questions

[ky_boater]

Just a few questions on this motor. I recently bought the boat and seems to be running ok but have ran into a few things that i'm not sure about. Also new to outboard motors.

#1 When starting the motor it seems like i have to crank it about 20 times to get it to fireup. Once it starts the first time it is fine the rest of the day. Any ideas?


#2 When the motor idles the rpm's are up in 5's & 6's and just wondered if that was normal?


#3 When pushing down on the throttle it takes a second to start taking off. It also has to be pushed down hard to get it going faster. Its like i can move the lever from 90 degrees to 160 degrees and it won't do anything. But from 169 degrees down to 180 degrees it is hard to push and that is where the boat starts to pick up and take off. Is that normal?


Thanks!

 

[Reel-Fun]

Re: 98 force 120 questions

#1 advance throttle quite a bit and make sure your priming it enuff to make the bulb solid. that will help with starting also if it has electric choke push the key in while starting.

#2 yes thats normal.

#3 mine is like that not sure about most but it seems fine i can go 75% of my throttle and the last 25% is most of my get up and go.

 

[ky_boater]

Re: 98 force 120 questions

Thanks NumbaONE!

Does anyone recommend any good books on force motors? I don't have a manual or anything like that.

 

[roscoe]

Re: 98 force 120 questions

The Clymer Force Repair Manual is pretty good. (better than the Seloc anyways)

You can get the factory repair manuals from Mercury or from ebay.

 

[imported_bjs]

Re: 98 force 120 questions

ouestion #3 my shifter is the same way theres a little hard plastic ball on the carb linkage try to grease that seems to help.could also be a stiff throttle cable my old throttle puy a new cable in was a little easier i think the problem is the type of shifter

 

[baxtr]

Re: 98 force 120 questions

Check to see if anything is getting pinched when you go ot full throttle, I had that problem where I had to force the throttle down hard and keep pressure on it just to get it to WOT, if I let go, it would creep back up. It ended up being a fuel line that was run wrong and getting stuck under the throttle mechanism at the motor.