87 125 Force rebuilt wont turn over

srs273srs

Recruit
Joined
Jul 30, 2006
Messages
2
Rebuilt 125 force, all pistons, rings and bearings are properly torqued and gapped.

rebuilt starter also.

Compression is testing out at 125+ on ALL cylinders.

Turns over fine without plugs, wont turn with plugs.

And yes... nothing is too tight!

Is that too much compression for an overhaul?
sould I be closer to 100+ and give engine a break in time?
 

roscoe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
21,755
Re: 87 125 Force rebuilt wont turn over

compression looks good to me.
It came from the factory with about 140.

With the plugs in, can you turn it by hand?
(trip the kill switch so it won't start and rip your arm off)

My engine has 130 # compression, and I can turn it by grabbing the flywheel.

I'd be the problem is in the starter or the cable connections.
Remove them, clean them, crank them TIGHT.
 

srs273srs

Recruit
Joined
Jul 30, 2006
Messages
2
Re: 87 125 Force rebuilt wont turn over

Starter just rebuilt?

Yes I can turn with plugs in by hand, tight but not to much effort.
Rings needed to be ground down, they were a bit large, book said ground to 1/16th inch gap.
could size of rings be dragging?

or should I have gone with a new starter?

roscoe said:
compression looks good to me.
It came from the factory with about 140.

With the plugs in, can you turn it by hand?
(trip the kill switch so it won't start and rip your arm off)

My engine has 130 # compression, and I can turn it by grabbing the flywheel.

I'd be the problem is in the starter or the cable connections.
Remove them, clean them, crank them TIGHT.
 

lillbush

Seaman
Joined
Feb 27, 2007
Messages
73
Re: 87 125 Force rebuilt wont turn over

I am having this same problem with my Force 120 L drive. I have no idea...I put a new crank shaft in mine and it turns over fine withOUT the plugs. you put the plugs in and the starter wont budge. I can turn mine easy by hand so I have no clue either!
 

MWBROWN

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Feb 7, 2006
Messages
231
Re: 87 125 Force rebuilt wont turn over

Here is some first hand experience. I only have a tiny little 85 force. One day I went to start in the driveway and the starter engaged but would not turn the engine. Of course I checked the battery and all was good. Pulled the plugs, just like you guys, to see what was up, and it would turn over fine. Plugs back in, no turn over , and or , real slow.
I took the $$$$$ plung and bought a new starter. Installed it, instant turn over and starting. WOOOOHOOOO.

With that, I think it is your starters, if your batteries are ok.

I found one online for 89.00 with a warantee, as the ones here, sorry to say,
are priceeee. As are most of the places.

Good Luck,

Mike
 

Frank Acampora

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jan 19, 2007
Messages
12,004
Re: 87 125 Force rebuilt wont turn over

Just for the hell of it, try pull starting. It's a nice thing to know if you are stuck out on the water.
Those engines pull over fairly easily and with the ignition on they should start first pull. Because of the type of ignition, you can start them with a completely dead battery.
Just be sure to use a strong cord with some sort of handle and a knot in the flywheel end. About 3-3 1/2 feet will give you about 2 wraps around the flywheel. Use two hands. Since the choke won't work because you can't be in two places at one time, remove the plugs and squirt some gas/oil mix in each cylinder. Replace plugs and fire it up. It will temporarily get you on the water until you either buy a new starter or properly fix the old one. Mine starts first pull, every time. And I always carry a starting cord on board--just in case.
 
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