89 Force 85hp Idles but dies in fwd/rev

[albundy]

Hi All! I have an 89 Force 85hp that cranks fine and runs fine first starting the day. After I kill it and fish for an hour it is hard to start. When it does crank it idles fine but dies if I try to put in forward or reverse. Always cranks right up again. After about 15 minutes of this it will stay running after shifting to forward and is fine afterwards. The fuel bulb is tight so no need to pump it. What could be causing this? Thanks in advance!

 

[roscoe]

Re: 89 Force 85hp Idles but dies in fwd/rev

You are not albundy. The real Al Bundy lives in Chicago. <br /><br />The problem most likely is that the fuel pump diaphram has aged and is wearing out. After you stop the engine, the fuel in the fuel pump will leak into the engine though holes in the diaphram. This causes a flooded condition when you try to restart it. This is a fairly common occurence now that these motors are getting to be 15+ years old.<br /><br />The fix is simple and cheap.<br />Order up a fuel pump rebuild kit from a local Mercury dealer, about $10, I think it comes with an instruction sheet. Take the fuel pump apart and replace the parts.<br />Should only take a half hour.

 

[tiller7104]

Re: 89 Force 85hp Idles but dies in fwd/rev

Hey roscoe when I replaced my fuel pump diaphram it was buldged. Does this mean it was wore out?

 

[roscoe]

Re: 89 Force 85hp Idles but dies in fwd/rev

Sometimes they are stretched (bulged), or have tiny holes or perforations. Some will have big holes.<br /><br />I'd say you bulged diaphram wasn't working as well or efficiently as it should, and only a matter of time till it failed.<br /><br />Failing doesn't just mean it doesn't pump any more.<br /><br />Sometimes a failure will just cause a lack of sufficient fuel to the carbs, causing one of them to run lean, which in turn can lead to a blown engine.<br /><br />Thats why a fuel pump diaphram is considered a consumable, it needs to be replaced periodically during preventive maintenance.