Re: 1988 "force" motor
bottom line on force is simple.
If you plan to work on it yourself, you get a good motor to start with, and you are good about maintaining your machines then Force is an excellent choice. It is a very simple engine that distinctly favors industry standard parts, clearances, and tolerances whenever possible. You can have reliable power for about $50 per year.
If you intend to let the marina maintain it then force is a very bad choice. Dealer parts are scarce and overpriced. They will give your boat to the least experienced and least qualified mechanic on their staff while charging you exhorbitant amounts for routine maintenance. You'll spend as much or more maintaining it than if you bought a johnnyrude.
regarding dependability. About 90% of the threads relating to serious problems such as blown powerheads are during the mercury years (1992 and later). Very few of the threads are about chryslers. Of the threads that pre-date mercury most of them trace back to a $5 voltage regulator, fuel residue in carbs at start of season, a $10 fuel pump diaphram, or a mechanic who adjusted idle incorrectly. Take out those four items and this forum would be mostly mercury problems or dead air. The one thing about force is that it was primarily designed as a freshwater engine. It has too many different types of metals with far too much stainless in the area of swivel bracket and far too little zinc anode. I think it was scaaty *****fered to broken driveshaft. well .... it probably wouldn't have broken if someone had kept up their anodes. so if you run in saltwater then clean & grease religiously and always keep a shiny anode.
bottom line on force is simple.
If you plan to work on it yourself, you get a good motor to start with, and you are good about maintaining your machines then Force is an excellent choice. It is a very simple engine that distinctly favors industry standard parts, clearances, and tolerances whenever possible. You can have reliable power for about $50 per year.
If you intend to let the marina maintain it then force is a very bad choice. Dealer parts are scarce and overpriced. They will give your boat to the least experienced and least qualified mechanic on their staff while charging you exhorbitant amounts for routine maintenance. You'll spend as much or more maintaining it than if you bought a johnnyrude.
regarding dependability. About 90% of the threads relating to serious problems such as blown powerheads are during the mercury years (1992 and later). Very few of the threads are about chryslers. Of the threads that pre-date mercury most of them trace back to a $5 voltage regulator, fuel residue in carbs at start of season, a $10 fuel pump diaphram, or a mechanic who adjusted idle incorrectly. Take out those four items and this forum would be mostly mercury problems or dead air. The one thing about force is that it was primarily designed as a freshwater engine. It has too many different types of metals with far too much stainless in the area of swivel bracket and far too little zinc anode. I think it was scaaty *****fered to broken driveshaft. well .... it probably wouldn't have broken if someone had kept up their anodes. so if you run in saltwater then clean & grease religiously and always keep a shiny anode.
