Re: 85hp force outboard
Sounds like possibly a stator or trigger. Check the stator and trigger wires very closely under the flywheel. Sometimes the insulation gets rubbed of and the bare wire shorts against the block.
If everything looks OK you can measure the stator and trigger windings.
Disconnect the stator wires, usually blue and yellow or brown/blue and brown/yellow. Measure resistance between both pairs of the blue and yellow wires. Should read between 680 - 850 ohms.
Check the trigger wires. There are three pairs of wires, 1 pair for each cylinder. Disconnect 1 pair at a time and measure resistance. It should be about 54 ohms. Also double check grounds for each coil, and ground from coil/CD module mounting plate to engine block.