1993 force 120 battery problems

[Clarden]

I had a Force 125 1989 and it blew up and got a newer 1993 force 120 outboard for my 18.5 bayliner bowrider. It runs beautiful when it starts but I am having a heck of time keeping the batteries charged enough to turn over the motor. It really struggles to turn over at full 500 amp charge and then won't start later in the day on same battery. I think that there may be some connection to the fact that my key will not shut down engine as I have to pull off laynard key to turn off engine.

Any ideas would be appreciated before I pull it out and send it to the shop...( not chop shop )...

ps. I have tried a brand new enigizer 600 cranking amp marine starter battery to no results...

Thanks in advance...

 

[mackje]

Re: 1993 force 120 battery problems

hey, i had a 200 johnson do that to me one time. i replaced batteries, putting the biggest one in it i could find. it ended up being a bad starter. even though it sounds like it is turning over good, might not be enough. i would check it out
mack

 

[Clarden]

Re: 1993 force 120 battery problems

hey, i had a 200 johnson do that to me one time. i replaced batteries, putting the biggest one in it i could find. it ended up being a bad starter. even though it sounds like it is turning over good, might not be enough. i would check it out
mack

I don't think the starter is the problem as it is not turning over enough the get 'er going. It sounds like your car battery when you've left the lights on in the middle of winter and then it catches sometimes....as close a description as I can get....

 

[skibug]

Re: 1993 force 120 battery problems

It could still be your starter. The starter can loose an internal brush and will loose some of it's cranking ability. It may still try and turn the motor, but it will not be enough to start the engine. If, your sure the batteries have a full charge, then, it's most likely the starter.

 

[kjkozak2]

Re: 1993 force 120 battery problems

Skibug is absolutely right. My 93 120hp was doing the exact same thing. New battery didn't help at all. I took the starter to a guy that rebuilds them and now I can start it with flashlight batteries (well, not quite, but it spins like mad).

You also might check all the cable connections. Take them off, clean the contacts, slap some dielectric grease on them for protection, and make sure you tighten them down good. That's one of the most common things I've seen with slow starting motors.

Cables also go bad. You may not see any corrosion, but they do corrode inside the casing. Check them with an ohm meter.

Good luck!

Kevin K.

 

[Clarden]

Re: 1993 force 120 battery problems

Thanks for all the advise guys....I will give them all a shot when I get to the boat on the weekend. Hopefully you're right. This a great site for the new boaters...You should be proud of the assistance you give

Clarden