1985 force 125 no spark

Joined
Feb 12, 2014
Messages
5
Can anyone explain in detail how to check stator and cd units before buying these parts??? Engine has no spark on any cylinders. I tried some basic troubleshooting like removing white wire from the ignition, removed the stator and cleaned it up and put in back on. None of this made any change in the spark. Neutral switch is working correctly but I was a bit puzzled that I couldn't find a warm up lever or knob on this engine. Any information about this motor would be greatly appreciated, this is my first dealing with a force of any kind.
 

Jiggz

Captain
Joined
Oct 23, 2009
Messages
3,909
Re: 1985 force 125 no spark

Instead of disconnecting the white shut down wire from the ignition, disconnect it instead at the terminal board inside the engine cowling. Try again and if problem persists, it is time to check for voltage output from the stator's yellow and blue wire pairs. Cranking voltage should be around 180Vac while the resistance should be between 680-800 ohms. It's very hard to read voltage output from the trigger without a DVA but you can at least read the resistance for each pair of wire and it should be around 48-52 ohms. Repost your test results.
 

redstrat

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Dec 29, 2011
Messages
202
Re: 1985 force 125 no spark

If your control box looks like this one you push on the center rubber the allow for fast (warm-up) idle. Oh yea, I did paint mine white. It took me a while to figure this out.

IMG_5573.jpgIMG_5341.jpg
 

gregmsr

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Sep 20, 2006
Messages
391
Re: 1985 force 125 no spark

If you haven't already, check the safety lanyard (i assume you have one on your dash) to be sure it's clipped in properly?
Check fuses? ( I had one blow once and had no spark = no start)
But i'm sure you've checked these.......
 
Joined
Feb 12, 2014
Messages
5
Re: 1985 force 125 no spark

I took the white wire loose from the terminal block on the engine and the motor started good call jiggz. Also my control lever does say pull neutral but it only comes out about a .25 inch if that and it doesn't bypass the shift mechanism. How far should it pull out could be sticking or possibly defective. Thanks for the great info guys it has paid dividends and saved me some cash already.
 

Jiggz

Captain
Joined
Oct 23, 2009
Messages
3,909
Re: 1985 force 125 no spark

Great! Now you need to trace that white wire you disconnected to make sure it is not grounded. The wire is the same wire that is grounded by the ignition sw in the off position and also the lanyard switch or kill switch. Most of the time the cause is the kill switch being activated unknowingly and must be reset. And sometimes in a very unusual situation is because of a faulty or broken ignition switch.
 
Joined
Feb 12, 2014
Messages
5
Re: 1985 force 125 no spark

I havn't located a lanyard switch or a kill switch on this boat its a 1985 bayliner with the ignition on the dash. If there is a kill switch im guessing it should operate from the white wire as well. Also could a faulty ignition cause it to work intermittenly because I reattached the white wire at the engine and the engine fired then too. I am leaning towards the wire possibly grounding out somewhere.
 

MickLovin

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 18, 2013
Messages
822
Re: 1985 force 125 no spark

I have had a switch fail on me, mine at the moment keeps my starter in even when switched back as the spring in it is binding and staying in the start position. I had to spray a contact solution into the keyhole of the switch with it isolated from power, flicked the switch a few times and it rectified itself. Starter relay? The white cable by the diagram is going to the stop switch.
120_125_thru91A_CD.jpg
 

Jiggz

Captain
Joined
Oct 23, 2009
Messages
3,909
Re: 1985 force 125 no spark

I havn't located a lanyard switch or a kill switch on this boat its a 1985 bayliner with the ignition on the dash. If there is a kill switch im guessing it should operate from the white wire as well. Also could a faulty ignition cause it to work intermittenly because I reattached the white wire at the engine and the engine fired then too. I am leaning towards the wire possibly grounding out somewhere.

If you have a multimeter you can easily track where this wire grounds to using resistance or continuity test. In fact, you can start with the ignition switch as you have mentioned.
 
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