1987 Force 125 Lugs down after running great but ,doesnt die?

[ChuckT]

Hi all, (1987 FORCE 125 25" 1251X7A 1351 - 1987 Capri Cuddy 1950)<br />Motor ran great! I recently hit a ramp, broke prop and Drive shaft. I replaced both.<br /><br />Went out for test drive, Well all was fine for about 10 min at full throttle then the motor lugged down and lugged all the way back to dock, it doesn't die though and kills and starts just fine. the thing that helps it the most is, I kill it! Trim the motor out of the water for a second or two, then trim it back in the water starts right up and full throttle for about 10 min or so, and again luggs down, but doesn't die.<br /><br />Motor runs like a champ 35mph strong doesnt miss a beat it is solid.<br /><br />Now I thought it might be the carbs or fuel mixture.( I have checked these things and all seems fine by sight), I added stp, sprayed carb cleaner in the carbs... this motor is like new it is in mint shape as well as the carbs.<br /><br />I am wondering about the vent screw, should this be slightly open?<br />Why when I lift motor and set it back in the water all is fine again?<br />Any help would be appreciated!

 

[12Footer]

Re: 1987 Force 125 Lugs down after running great but ,doesnt die?

Sounds like water in the carb bowls?<br />Could be.. It picks up water,and bogs---You tilt it -- it picks up clean fuel, and off you go again.<br />If it idles fine in nuetral, but stalls when you put it in gear, check for a dead cylinder.

 

[roscoe]

Re: 1987 Force 125 Lugs down after running great but ,doesnt die?

vent on fuel tank should be open.

 

[ChuckT]

Re: 1987 Force 125 Lugs down after running great but ,doesnt die?

Well Thanks fellows!<br />I'm not sure but, I don't think water is getting in there, and it doesn't stall ever it just bogs down.<br />And Roscoe thank you, but I am refering to the vent screw on the lower unit near the fill screw.<br /><br />Any more help would be highly appreciated!

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: 1987 Force 125 Lugs down after running great but ,doesnt die?

Sounds like a weak fuel pump or a partial clog on the line or on the pickup. Start with the fuel pump. Parts are cheap and that motor needs it by now anyhow. You'll probably just need a rebuild kit. They're pretty simple. If you had a partail clog before the primer bulb it would probably suck the bulb in, but not always.<br /><br />It could also be a sticky valve in your primer bulb. That'd be the easiest and cheapest thing to try first. Look for kinks in the line. That's free.

 

[fixin]

Re: 1987 Force 125 Lugs down after running great but ,doesnt die?

The vent screw should have an o-ring and should be tight or water could get in.The vent is for filling/draining lower unit fluid.

 

[ChuckT]

Re: 1987 Force 125 Lugs down after running great but ,doesnt die?

Thank you all, I will try some of these things and I will let you all know my outcome so you will know for future references..

 

[CaptinPhil]

Re: 1987 Force 125 Lugs down after running great but ,doesnt die?

It most likely is not your carbs. Sounds like it is your powerpacks. Your engine has two powerpacks, each one runs two cylinders. They often lose power after it runs for a while, if they are worn. Usually, if let the engine cool down, the engine operates normally again. The powerpacks can be replaced for about $350 each.<br /><br /><br />Goodluck!

 

[ChuckT]

Re: 1987 Force 125 Lugs down after running great but ,doesnt die?

Power Packs? Do you think it would cool in 1 or 2 seconds though? All I have to do is kill it, lift it, put it back in the water and normal again, this only takes me like 3 maybe 5 seconds. maybe like it drains gas out or water out of somewhere and all is fine again. It acts like a vapor lock situation or something. Like when I lift it, it drains the excess gas or water out.<br /><br />Any thoughts?

 

[ChuckT]

Re: 1987 Force 125 Lugs down after running great but ,doesnt die?

I am also wondering if it could be the lower unit somehow, because before I broke the shaft and prop it had never done this. That was only maybe 3 1/2 weeks ago. I would run this motor for 2 - 4 hours a day for about a month and never missed a beat. Now I'm not no Marine Tech by any means, but I personally don't see how the lower unit could affect the motor in this manner, but is it possible?

 

[CaptinPhil]

Re: 1987 Force 125 Lugs down after running great but ,doesnt die?

In all of my years with Force engines, I have never ran across something like this. Are you sure you have to lift it out of the water? Maybe you can rule out that step as a troubleshooting method? If lifting it out of the water is not needed, then you have a problem with your fuel pump or, yes, it could be a carb or two. If you remove the spark plug and it appears fairly claen, there maybe water getting in there. As far as the lower unit is concerned, other than the water pump, the only thing that can effect the performance every-so-often is the prop. I doubt however, that that is your problem. Do you know if the lower unit is taking in water? Check that gear lube, if it's milky then you have water in there. A failed water pump would just lead to engine over heating. Does your overheating alarm work?<br /><br />Just some thoughts, keep me posted.

 

[ChuckT]

Re: 1987 Force 125 Lugs down after running great but ,doesnt die?

As far as I know there is no overheat alarm, I do know that water is coming out of the pee holes real good, and it is hot water which tells me it is cooling motor. I tried other methods to get it out of the lugg down state. I just ran it while lugging down, tapped the choke a lot, also tried lifting out of water while running for a couple seconds, also fluctuated speeds. These things don't seem to do anything for it. I checked all plugs they looked real good, they did have a light fresh oil build up on them, and I wiped them down. I replaced fuel filter. I did check the gear oil in the lower and, yes it is slightly milky, my next step with that is i'm going to get a new lower seal kit, something I failed to do while replacing the shaft. I am going to go back through that. asap. Do you feel the prop would do this if the hub is worn? It does have like a 16th or so of play in it.<br /> <br />This will take me a couple of weeks to get to. I really appreciate the thoughts all of you. It gives me ideas in the direction to go in.<br />I do have a second motor for parts too. It is an 1984 version of the same force125. The good thing about that is I only payed $25 dollars for it ...lol the guy had no idea what he had there..lol..

 

[CaptinPhil]

Re: 1987 Force 125 Lugs down after running great but ,doesnt die?

Do you mean the thrust hub? Play in the thrust hub really isn't to big of a deal. If there is play in the shaft, that's not good. Sometimes the shaft may pull out a very small fraction of an inch. If it moving from side to side, that needs attention. To be honest, I really don't know if the engine would react that way with that problem. It does sound fuel delivery or ignition related. I would think that your BIGGEST symptom due to the shaft or lower unit for that matter, would be vibration. After reading your last response carefully, I still think it is your ignition (powerpacks). Powerpacks can also act funny, besides bogging down after a while in WOT position. Believe me, Force engine can due some weird things with worn powerpacks.<br /><br />Let me know what happens...