CCA required for '91 Force 150

[johnbottsr]

I bought the shop manual but don't know when I will get it and need to buy a starting battery.
Any of you gurus know the CCA requirement for this outboard?

I am thinking of getting one with 800 CCAs regardless, bad idea?

 

[pnwboat]

Re: CCA required for '91 Force 150

I'm not sure but mine are rated at 550 on my 4 cylinder 125HP motor. It would probably be better to have a bit more ooommmph for your 5 cylinder. I don't think you can ever have too many CCA's, but that's just my way of thinking.

 

[foodfisher]

Re: CCA required for '91 Force 150

Agreed, can't have too many. Could help a dead future friend.

 

[johnbottsr]

Re: CCA required for '91 Force 150

Thanks guys, I had an "episode" yesterday where both my battery (which I charged to 100% according to my "smart" charger Saturday night) AND my backup would not turn the 150 over. Would like to avoid this in the future and have a line on a DEKA F-24M7 for $85.00.
Think I will buy 2 of them and wire them parallel with a Perko switch just to be extra sure.
They are 800 CCA / 1,000 MCA (whatever the difference is) and I think that price is about as good as it gets.

 

[pnwboat]

Re: CCA required for '91 Force 150

Double check the battery cable connectors. I have to clean mine off every year at the beginning of the season. Especially the battery. Connections look perfect on top. Turn them over and look at the bottom and solid green corrosion. Also check the battery cable ground connection on the engine block.

When I installed a battery switch with two batteries, I replaced all the battery cables (positive & negative) with 2 gauge.

 

[johnbottsr]

Re: CCA required for '91 Force 150

Sage advice sir.
I did go so far as to check the terminals well at the battery and went so far as to make sure the leads to the motor were on the bottom of the stack in case the others were not conducting (I had a bit of time drifting about Porcupine Bay).
I did not check connections at the engine though so that will happen tomorrow.

However, I did stupidly go out with two batteries I knew were suspect which is a novice mistake I will cop to.
Luckily I had a spare fuel fitting for my kicker (which was sucking air and not keeping prime) or I would have been in the "Do you tow people" thread.

 

[pnwboat]

Re: CCA required for '91 Force 150

Live and learn. Been there, done that. LOL! That's why I bought a new second battery and added a switch.

Sometimes I go out all over Coeur D'Alene and up the St Joe or Coeur D'Alene rivers. Don't run into many people on some days and it's 30 plus miles back to where I put in. Dead battery is a real pain!

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: CCA required for '91 Force 150

Slow to turn over: check the connections,the grounds too.
Make sure the battery is good, most auto parts stores will load test it.
Check the cable for soft spots and corrosion.
The 450CCA is useable.The bigger the better.
Take the starter apart and see if it's good. A rebuild kit is only 15$.
If the starter is good??
Then do a compression test.
Low comp on 1 cylinder will make it hard to turn over.

 

[johnbottsr]

Re: CCA required for '91 Force 150

What does the starter rebuild kit have?
I did one for my truck that worked great and was just the contacts and plunger.

I am going to give everything the once over when I get teh manual (hopefully tomorrow) but I am pretty sure the batteries are garbage.
I guess a load test couldn't hurt verify that though . . . good thought.