On a long river trip in need of a quick fix

[Bensalvage]

I am traveling from Minneapolis, MN to Mobile Alabama. I have a 85HP Chrysler that runs horrible at an idle but runs great at higher speeds. I had a mechanic look at it after a few days of it slowly idling worse. Its got good compression but he looked at the spark and said it was intermittent. He told me it could be the stator OR it could be the box inline before the ignition coil. Then he told me he doesn't have the books on the motor or a good way to get parts for the motor other then ebay. PLEASE HEP! I have an alright assortment of tools. Is there any sort of fix that would at least allow the motor to idle well?

 

[roscoe]

Re: On a long river trip in need of a quick fix

model and year of motor?

Ignition systems on those motors were different, every 2-4 years.

Could be a coil, stator, trigger, cd module. too hard to tell without running the tests on each component.

Might actually be faster and cheaper to replace the engine with an 80's or 90's Evinrude or johnson.

 

[MikDee]

Re: On a long river trip in need of a quick fix

If you're in a bind, & traveling,,, I'd say get a new set of spark plugs for now! They should be a cheap easy improvement! Then when the engines running, & warmed up, set the idle mixture screws at about 1 turn each, then slowly gradually one at a time, move each one in, or out, 1/4 turn, until you get the highest idle speed without a misfire,,, (a misfire is too lean), just take it out 1/4 turn more, that maybe all you need, see if this helps.

My 89'-125hp Force will idle fine, but stall shifting everytime if I leave the lower carb at 1 turn out, it wants to be at 3/4 of a turn out, or else

I know if you're stuck away from home, it can be a headache, you just want it to run right Now, till you get home.

 

[chitownborn]

Re: On a long river trip in need of a quick fix

I Had a bad idleing problem on my 87, 85 hp force, I went and changed plugs, cleaned and adjusted carbs, rebuilt fuel pump, and still wouldnt idle worth a dam, I finally cleaned the screens in the puddle drains and now it idles perfect you can hardly hear it run at idle. Id check the puddle drains they have an effect on how it idles, good luck