94 Force 120 Cooling Issues are killing me.............

[psurob]

My 120 (new to me) runs great but never has water coming out of the tell-tales when using ears. I have replaced the water pump, including the lower plate because its seals were leaking. The water pipe dropped down several inches from above due to the grommet coming out. I pushed it up tight and reseated the grommet. With the ears on and engine running the water spray at the ears reduced but even under moderate throttle still has some spray shooting past the ears. At no time does water come out the tell-tale holes. The impeller was installed using a clockwise rotation of the drive shaft (per manual). I have run small cable throughout the water system to make sure nothing is clogged as far as I can. I have run water down from the thermostat housing and it drains out the water pipe as well as two holes on the inside of the driveshaft housing located either side of the water pipe. Do these engines pump better submerged and is there a different drain location other than the tell-tales? I don't have the facilities to remove the engine from the boat if I have to remove the drive shaft housing unless I can do it with the engine still on the boat. Can anybody explain to me this cooling system and does anyone have any ideas that I have missed?????

 

[fucawi]

Re: 94 Force 120 Cooling Issues are killing me.............

some engines do not pump well or at all with muffs..until you stick it in the lake or have it in a barrel 6-9 in above the anti ventilation plate you will not know if its good or bad news.

 

[bentle]

Re: 94 Force 120 Cooling Issues are killing me.............

Agree. The motor will always pump better in the lake. If you don't already have one then
see if you can find a pair of muffs that have water fed to both of the ears instead of just one side.
I had to get a pair because my 125force outboard was doing the same. Also water will leak out the sides around the ear muffs so that's normal, on mine I make sure that where the water exits
the muffs is lined up with the water intakes on both sides of the lower unit just behind the prop.
I use full water pressure just to be safe.

 

[iCam]

Re: 94 Force 120 Cooling Issues are killing me.............

I am having the same issue with my 150. I narrowed down the issue to the grommet that is on the top of the water tube. I believe (and anyone correct me if I am wrong) but the grommet needs to be locked into the hole that the water tube goes through. If it is not, the pressure the pump is giving to circulate the water is not high enough to go through the engine. The water pressure is relieved because the grommet is not sealing around the water tube. I have not figured out a good way of popping that grommet in the hole that the tube goes through (because the tube is flaired and the flair is supposed to be above the grommet?!?).

 

[cmjust0]

Re: 94 Force 120 Cooling Issues are killing me.............

Quick question...the 'tell tales' that you're talking about...they wouldn't be the two or three holes on the back of the exhaust housing/midsection, would they? Like, two or three vertically-aligned holes in the housing maybe midway between the cowl and where the waterline is when the boat's in the water.. Because if so, those are exhaust relief ports -- not tell tales. They're there so your boat doesn't have to work to push exhaust gas out the prop at idle (imagine sustained, high-speed bathtub farts rolling up behind your boat at idle...lol).

I have a Force 70HP with no tell-tale and the cooling system water runs out through the prop hub.. Mine only ever spits a few intermittant, incidental drops of water out those relief ports, though I seem to recall it pulsating water out them at WOT.. Can't say that for sure, though -- I don't often inspect the back of the motor at WOT...lol

So, do you have water running out through the prop when you run it on the hose? Is it overheating?

 

[flightdoc]

Re: 94 Force 120 Cooling Issues are killing me.............

I also have a early 90's Force 120 and after watching some videos was freaked out that I was not getting any water out of those but after some research I have found the CMJUST0 is right. You will be lucky to find really any water come out of the Exhaust relief ports on the muffs unless you really rev your motor up. (not recommended) Now if you put it in the water and you don't have a good strong spray at idle then there may be a problem.

 

[fucawi]

Re: 94 Force 120 Cooling Issues are killing me.............

The tell tale is a small outlet 1/8 dia usually fitted to the top of the cylinder head and comes out the side of the engine so you can see it easilly ..lots of chrysler/force did not have them and I think it is the most important mod you can make...water should come from the exhaust relief holes at all speeds even if only a spray

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 94 Force 120 Cooling Issues are killing me.............

Forces have a pressure relief that comes out the back of the mid leg.
If the PRV is stuck/corroded no water will come out.Or if it's stuck open it will show a lot of water.
Your motor,most of the water come out the prop.
Install a telltale.
If your copper tube came loose you might have to remove the head and re-install the gromet.
If you've ever been in salt water then get ready for some work.The tube is held in place with 2 tiny bolts that break off as soon as you look at them.