Are most force motors a pos?

skmag357

Cadet
Joined
May 15, 2006
Messages
11
Looking at a boat with a 1995 force 125 on it. Guy says it has about 300 hours. From what I have heard from others, force engines aren't the best. Many problems and very unreliable. Please let me know. Thanks.
 

gotzoom

Cadet
Joined
May 11, 2006
Messages
20
Re: Are most force motors a pos?

I bought an 89 force last year. This was my first boat/motor. It sat in a garage for several years without being ran. It started up right away with no issues. From what I have read on the forums, these motors will run a long time with proper care and maintence as with any motor. I ran mine every weekend last summer for about 2 months and the only thing I had to replace was the bulb. I would be sure to have the water pump (Impeller) replaced right away unless he had it done within the last year or two. I'm still learning about mine as well. Hope this info helps.
 

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: Are most force motors a pos?

No, not all.<br /><br />There are three problems with many Force engines.<br /><br />1. They were usually put on cheap entry level boats bought by beginning boaters who didn't know how to take proper care of them. They suffered a lot of abuse and neglect.<br /><br />2. Parts are often hard to find and most pro wrenches wont work on them.<br /><br />3. They used mostly West Bend and Chrysler technology which became obsolete in the 1970s.<br /><br />That said, Well maintained Force engines will outlast both the boat and owner they are attached to.
 

imported_LakeRunner

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Dec 4, 2005
Messages
174
Re: Are most force motors a pos?

Better to learn the fine art of boat maintenance on Force than an Evinrude or a Johnson. If you can keep a Force running, you got it down pat!
 

imported_bjs

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 21, 2005
Messages
368
Re: Are most force motors a pos?

thats the problem with all these forums they only show the bad things and everybody blames the motor.i dont think force motors are that bad as well as everyone motor has there share of problems look at some of the other forums.they dont put force motors motors on cheap boats or entry level boats i have a triton bass boat with a force motor and thats not a cheap or an entry level boat.if dont fell like its worth it dont buy the boat....
 

Keefbikes

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
May 6, 2006
Messages
34
Re: Are most force motors a pos?

I amy be wron and if I am Im sure I will be corrected, but Force was bought out by Mercury in the late 80's early 90's. They kept the name on the engines but used alot of mercury parts in the manufacturing, mostly in the lower units of the engines. The Force you are looking at is going to be very close to or identical to the same years Mercury.
 

Keefbikes

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
May 6, 2006
Messages
34
Re: Are most force motors a pos?

Sorry for the spelling, I had a screaming kid crawling all over me.
 

eurolarva

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jun 24, 2003
Messages
4,182
Re: Are most force motors a pos?

You dont need to frequent the force forum to hear from other boaters what they think about force. I see and hear it all the time at the bait shop and at the boat landing. If you can handle the ribbing you will get from owning or defending this motor go for it. I know this is hard but I would get a compression test done and a long ride with the motor. Have the owner idle the boat for about 5 minutes then do a hole shot and see how fast it goes. If you have a GPS take it with you. Remember not many people will work on these motors anymore so if you are not prepared to handle the maintenance you might want to look at a different motor.
 

rodbolt

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 1, 2003
Messages
20,066
Re: Are most force motors a pos?

I worked as a force tech for some years and owned and worked on chyslers prior to that, I am also a master yamaha tech and have been certified on force,merc,mariner,mercruiser and volvo penta. for years my bread and butter was jonnyrudes.<br />while force had issues most were not design flaws but consumer flaws.<br />as the cost of labor went up and the reliability of machinery went up folks forget they are dealing with a very high performance engine that will not tolerate subsystem degradation so most just got run till they broke.<br /> the advent of various electronic ign systems was both a boon and a headache, some systems worked well some did not.<br /> goes for ALL makes.<br />the OMC amplifier system was a terrible as the chysler magna power set up which was as crazy as the thunderbolt battery CD. all had issues at various times. some were customer induced others were design flaws. most american brands still suffer a lot of electrical component failures but are getting better.<br />but overall force made a decent product, they just did not like saltwater,neither do the rest, and dissapeared in my area.
 

rodbolt

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 1, 2003
Messages
20,066
Re: Are most force motors a pos?

by 95 merc had most the bugs out of the force and all you really had issues with was the merc electronics, which means switch box and stator failures.<br />the red stator kit fixed most of these.
 

RRitt

Captain
Joined
Mar 30, 2006
Messages
3,319
Re: Are most force motors a pos?

I suggest springing the extra $120 for boyesen reed valves before the boat ever hits the water.
 

whblaylock

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Sep 6, 2005
Messages
46
Re: Are most force motors a pos?

I bought a used 98 Fisher 240dlx last Aug that came with a same yr 120 Force. The boat had not been used in 14 months and for the last 3 yrs was used in the intercoastal in Fla. The boat was in great shape but needed a major clean up that took us week. The independent shop I use was backed up and could not look at the mtr for weeks but we wanted to use the boat. We used it the rest of the season with no problems except an idle issue and when I finally had it serviced there was no problem with parts or getting him to even look at it. It sat for 6 months with stabil last fall and winter and when we took our first cruise this spring it started right up and ran great. They are thirsty and at todays prices you feel that a little deeper but I am very satisfied with my Force. I had said many times over the yrs that if I had to go to the lake with a Chrysler pushing me I would find another hobby. This johnrude man would not be found floating on the lake with nothing but, bolted to my transom. I have eaten those words several times over. LOL wh
 

pecheux

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Jun 9, 2006
Messages
1,200
Re: Are most force motors a pos?

I have owned just about every brand of outboards available, from 4 hp to 115 hp.<br /><br />Main american brands such as Merc Omc and Chrysler each add particularities but what I remember most from my 90 hp Chrysler was how smooth it was running and with very little vibrations ... also liked the hollow sound best.<br /><br />Merc 115 6 cyl was a workhorse, but smoked and vibrated a lot ... and a rattling sound.<br /><br />Omc 90 V4 was vanilla all the way.<br /><br />At the moment have a 1997 Force 15hp and a 1981 Johnson 9hp ... each have less than 100 hours on them ... Canadian winters allow usage for a few month per year only. They both run differently and I love em both so dont know which one to get rid of ... LOL
 

22trophy

Seaman
Joined
Aug 2, 2003
Messages
54
Re: Are most force motors a pos?

1999 Force 120 HP- 500 hrs of only salt water use. Still runs runs great!
 
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