Engine wont start :(

[ezimmerm]

I have an 1989 Force 150 (1508 Model) that I was using during a weekend on the river. Everything seemed fine until I was idling along and it just quit and wouldnt start again (this was after two days of running perfectly).

Charged my battery, that didn't work. Tried a new battery from a friend boat and that didnt seem to be the problem. I finally put on a new starter and that still hasn't fixed it either.

Pulled off the spark plugs (which had some fouling but nothing major, cleaned them) and with the starter and the plugs off tried to turn the flywheel by hand.

It'll go about 40% of a turn freely, then the next 10% of the turn you need some muscle to turn it, 40% freely,10% muscle etc. Is this normal or does it mean somethings binding?

From what I read it should be pretty easy to turn the flywheel by hand once the plugs are out since there is no compression. I have nothing else to compare it too.

So it's not the starter, not the battery, plugs look alright. What next?

 

[Jeremy90bay]

Re: Engine wont start

Would it crank at all? if so did you check spark? if not I've heard of people squirting some 2 cycle oil into the plug holes to see if it frees up. also if it does crank over do a compression check.

did you check to see if you have water in your lower unit oil? maybe something is binding in the leg.

Im just a newbie myself but these are suggestions Ive seen on here. hope I could help.

 

[pnwboat]

Re: Engine wont start

If there is variance in the effort needed to turn the motor over by hand with all the plugs out then there is definitely something wrong. Next step is to do a compression test to see if the rings are OK.

 

[ezimmerm]

Re: Engine wont start

Thanks for the replies.

To answer Jeremy first, no water in the lower unit and it does crank over barely.

To pnw:

Crap that's not what I wanted to hear

I'll go rent a tester tomorrow but I have a couple of questions first...

1. Do I remove all the plugs at once to test or test with only 1 spark plug removed at a time?

2. Should I put the starter back on or do you hand turn it with the compression tester on there?

3. What should the ideal reading be for my engine? I've fiound a wide range of answers only from 100+ to no more then 10% variance on all cylinders.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[Jeremy90bay]

Re: Engine wont start

It would be easier to do it with the starter back on. and take 1 plug out at a time. compression should be 120+ with no more than 10% variance between cylinders

 

[pnwboat]

Re: Engine wont start

You have to check compression by using the starter. You can't spin the motor over fast enough by hand.

 

[ezimmerm]

Re: Engine wont start

Well I have egg on my face, I'm guessing there is water in the lower unit since the oil looks like coffee with cream.

I checked this when I bought the boat and after a couple of runs early in the season but I made an assumption that it was still alright when apparently its not.

With the engine in neutral I can spin the prop in either direction but if I put it in forward I cannot spin it by hand, same with reverse.

Could this mean that the lower unit is shot? Should I just try replacing the oil or should I take it in?

Could this be what is causing that binding feeling when turning the fly wheel?