Idle Mixture Screws, Idle Speed-'96 Force 120HP

[kinggabbo]

I have a couple of questions concerning my Force 120HP motor. First off, it is smoking like mad at idle. I know Forces tend to smoke and mine always has some, but never this much. It did have the carbs rebuilt recently by someone else. Also, the idle speed is just a little low and it tends to die if you shift into gear and don't give it plenty of gas.

I was thinking maybe the idle mixture was too rich. The screws are turned out 1 1/2 turns from lightly seated. Which way do I turn them to make the mixture more lean? Also, if I make it more lean, will this raise the idle speed a little for me?

 

[cambosoup99]

Re: Idle Mixture Screws, Idle Speed-'96 Force 120HP

your running rich right now. turning to the right will lean it out. (clockwise)

 

[kinggabbo]

Re: Idle Mixture Screws, Idle Speed-'96 Force 120HP

your running rich right now. turning to the right will lean it out.

OK, just so I'm sure I know exactly what to do, turn it clockwise to lean it out, correct?

 

[pnwboat]

Re: Idle Mixture Screws, Idle Speed-'96 Force 120HP

Yes, clockwise leans the mixture out. You need to be idling about 750 RPM's in gear. Any lower than that and the motor tends to die when putting in gear. Each motor is a little different, but that 750 RPM is generally a good starting point. Different props, hull designs place different loads on the motor. You don't want it idling so fast that the lower end gears chatter when you go from neutral to forward or reverse.

When you adjust the idle mixture, do it in 1/8 of turn increments. Test and re-adjust. It's not advisable to go any leaner than 7/8th's of turn out from lightly seated.