1998 Force 120 outboard

[wild n crazy]

Hello friends, I am new to this , I've been reading and seeing alot of helpful gentlemen in here. If any one have time please help with the solution before I guessing out of my money by buying unnecessary parts. My problem on the motor just started recently, when I took the boat out . I hardly going fishing on it. I started the engine at home and it started with no problem, but when I put in water, started with the tilt and the prop in the water it wont start, I tilted the prop out of the water and it started with no problem, now that I started to see the circulating pee hole wont ejecting water, unless I rev up the engine. and my RPM are high too, If I tilted the prop out of the water, started and and lower the prop into the water and accelerated , then it run , while in motion, it does jerk , but it does run up to 30 - 45 mph no problem. running sloww and idleing it will shut down... I am appreciated with your help and thanks for your time reading this post.

 

[maxum247]

Re: 1998 Force 120 outboard

Try replacing the spark plugs with new ones and see if that helps.

 

[wild n crazy]

Re: 1998 Force 120 outboard

Thanks Maxum for the replied. I'll try to do that when I get home from offshore. can you please explained why the problem is the sparkplugs??? I just wanted to learn more , and that I am not doubting you sir

 

[maxum247]

Re: 1998 Force 120 outboard

Force outboards at least the 1989 125HP I have are hard on spark plugs, they seem to foul the spark plugs easily as the older engines didn't burn the fuel throughly. Idleing for any length of time is hard on the spark plugs, outboards in general get quite warm if idled for very long which is hard on the spark plugs, thus the water circulating thru the water passages cools the engine block, anyway idleing for long periods leads to fouled spark plugs, poor idle, hard starting, etc. This is something easy to try and see if it solves your problem and it doesn't cost much to do, if you don't get new plugs at least clean the old one's good.

 

[wild n crazy]

Re: 1998 Force 120 outboard

thanx kindly for your time Maxum...what do you think on the water pee hole, it does not shoot out unless I put it in gear???

 

[maxum247]

Re: 1998 Force 120 outboard

If the water pump impeller in the lower unit hasn't been changed in a while the impeller is probably in need of changing or the engine thermostat may not be opening correctly or the water passages may be clogged a little. How long have you had the engine and what have you done or not done to the engine?

 

[SwampThing]

Re: 1998 Force 120 outboard

I would follow maxum247's advice AND while you're at it clean or replace ALL fuel filters. Especially if you have the little screen filter under the cap where the fuel line connects to the motor. Also for about $6 I would put a new diaphragm in the fuel pump. It should take you all of 10 minutes and you'll be surprised at the difference it can make. At that age most of these diaphragms start to resemble an old lunch bag.

 

[maxum247]

Re: 1998 Force 120 outboard

How's the motor coming along or are you still offshore?

 

[wild n crazy]

Re: 1998 Force 120 outboard

wow, thanks for another kindly replies, yes Maxum, I am still offshore , not coming home til next week , for the motor, I havent done anything since I bought it except for buy new sparkplugs, but that was a long time ago, the engine was a 98 I bought it in 2000 ...for 4 000, I thought that was a good deal for an 120 hp outboard, I dont used it much cuz working away from home too much, and no fishing partner I'll try and do as both of you advices when I get home

 

[wild n crazy]

Re: 1998 Force 120 outboard

Maxum, I do really thanx for the time you put out to help people up here like me..I did cleaned my sparkplug, and did a compression test. they're all at the 90s . I've cleaned my fuel line, changed out the inlinefilter, bought new water separator for the gas filter..I wanted to check out my water pump to see what kind of damage , can you refer me to a sight where I can buy the book on how to take the motor apart to get to the water pump, or a site that have some picts where I can used to undo the pump, I've taken the 4 nuts on the lower part of the engine out, but thinking there are something else I have to undo to drop the lower part...please help..Thanks in advance

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: 1998 Force 120 outboard

1998 Force used a Mercury midleg and lower unit. There are 2 nuts on each side of the lower unit, one in the front, usually above the lower unit on the midleg, and USUALLY one bolt in the back under a plastic plug. You must also disconnect the speedometer hose that runs from the lower unit up through at least part of the midleg, and I am not sure about the shift linkage. I know Merc used a rotating shift linkage rather than the push-pull of earlier Force engines.

 

[wild n crazy]

Re: 1998 Force 120 outboard

Frank, thanx for the reply , I can only find 5 bolts , well actually nuts connecting to bolts , I've undo the nuts, but the lower unit dont even budge..so, how easy or what do I have to do? I hoped there are an easier way than me trying to bang on this lower unit ..please help..Thanks

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 1998 Force 120 outboard

Look under the trim fin older units had an exhaust snout.It has a bolt under it.Jerry

 

[wild n crazy]

Re: 1998 Force 120 outboard

Jerry, thanx , that's the 5th bolt I am talking about, coultd it be sticking since it's never been apart??? or there are more bolts that I cant see? it's a 1998 120 Force

 

[maxum247]

Re: 1998 Force 120 outboard

Maxum, I do really thanx for the time you put out to help people up here like me..I did cleaned my sparkplug, and did a compression test. they're all at the 90s . I've cleaned my fuel line, changed out the inlinefilter, bought new water separator for the gas filter..I wanted to check out my water pump to see what kind of damage , can you refer me to a sight where I can buy the book on how to take the motor apart to get to the water pump, or a site that have some picts where I can used to undo the pump, I've taken the 4 nuts on the lower part of the engine out, but thinking there are something else I have to undo to drop the lower part...please help..Thanks in advance

Hey! Good to hear from you again. Try looking on Ebay for a Force factory manual for your year and horsepower outboard.

 

[maxum247]

Re: 1998 Force 120 outboard

120 HP Models (1995-1999) From my (Clymer Manual). Sorry for the bad picture, best I could do.

 

[wild n crazy]

Re: 1998 Force 120 outboard

Maxum or Jerry, do I have to take out the 2 bolts for the Prop out and undo all that before the lower unit would drop??? I've taken out a total of 5 nuts, 2 on ea side, one below the annoid...but the gap where the lower unit connecting to the engine does not separate, not even a crack that show a separation..are there more bolts that I need to take out hidden somewhere???

 

[maxum247]

Re: 1998 Force 120 outboard

Maxum or Jerry, do I have to take out the 2 bolts for the Prop out and undo all that before the lower unit would drop??? I've taken out a total of 5 nuts, 2 on ea side, on below the annoid...but the gap where the lower unit connecting to the engine does not separate, not even a crack that show a separation..are there more bolts that I need to take out hidden somewhere???

I don't know the 120 Force personally but according to the diagram I posted it looks like your driveshaft and gearshift shaft appear to be splined.
May be able to advise better with pictures of what you've done so far, like the under side where the anode is there's a hidden bolt in a deep hole, did you get that or the bolt that holds the annode on? If you miss the hidden bolt it won't come off.

 

[wild n crazy]

Re: 1998 Force 120 outboard

Ok , here's what I've done. I've took out 4 bolts, well, actually 4 nuts , 2 on ea side, and Jerry have said there's one under the trim, I've took that one out also, a total of 5 nuts. but the lower unit dont give me any sign of coming down, even a little crack to tell me I am getting close..I dont know much about boat or motor, but is alway good to learn and do it yourself..the 2 times that I took it to the shop, it cost me quite a bit. ?'ve tried to insert pix in here, but dont know how Maxum...I've read on one other post about how to replace the impeller, but my English is sux, cuz I dont understand all the boat's terms. I am glad and thanx to all the nice people up here for helping me through.

 

[maxum247]

Re: 1998 Force 120 outboard

Drive shaft spline could be stuck in the end of the crankshaft. I hate to recommend it but you may need to try and get a putty knife or two with a wide blade started in the seem and then move to a wide blade screw driver to get it going. Once started, best to use a hardwood wedge on either side of the lower unit to wedge it free. As Frank mentioned you need to know for sure how the shift connects before prying on the lower unit, you need to call a dealer that knows the engine to be certain that wedging the unit won't mess up anything before starting.
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