Force 85 Control Operation

[draggindakota]

Hi, new guy here. I recently bought a Bayliner Capri 1700 with an 85 HP Force. Both the boat and motor are 1988 models. This is my first boat, so I'm kinda figuring things out as I go. For the controls, is there supposed to be a high idle adjustment for starting? Or is the throttle able to be operated in neutral? My brother-in-law seems to think there should be, since his Evinrude of the same vintage has an idle lever for starting.

The back ground:
The boat sat for 2 years before I bought it, so right off the bat I stripped and cleaned the carbs, replaced fuel lines / filter / primer bulb, drained and flushed the tank, synced & adjusted the carbs and had to re-glue the magnets on the flywheel. After all that it runs great. I can tank it at home and it will start right up on the first hit of the key and sit there idling for as long as I want it to, in gear or out.

Then I get the boat in the water and it doesn't want to start. I've taken it out 3 times so far and each time it's the same thing: the motor won't start until I pull the cowling and manually work the throttle linkage. Once it's running it will idle fine but when I shift into gear it wants to die unless someone is there the bump the linkage again. Once it has warmed up and been ran for 15 or 20 minutes it will start up perfectly fine every time for the rest of the day.

I'm going to re-check and adjust the carb sync again, but that brings me to my question: What is the correct operation of the control lever? I know per the manual you are supposed to pull the lever out for the neutral interlock, move it forward then start the engine. When the lever is pushed forward in this case, is that supposed to operate the throttle for a high idle condition for warm up? I can start this engine without doing that (but not while in gear - I verified that), and I get zero throttle operation unless it is put in gear, so it seems like maybe there is something amiss in my controls.

 

[Nordin]

Please pics of the remote control.
I think there is a push button in the handel center.
You push it in and in the same time you push the handel forward then you get only throttle movement for cold start.
But it depend which remote control you have.
My youngest son has a 1988 Force 85Hp and the control is as I discribes.

 

[jerryjerry05]

The 88 model has a throttle that in N you can pull the handle out and that disengages the shifter.
Then you can throttle a little for starting once you pull the handle.
The choke is activated by pushing and holding the key in(it should activate the choke slide and butterflies) that causes enriched air/fuel into the pistons and helps starting.
Nordin: it sounds like you have an old style shifter that when you push in it disengages the shift. The newer needs to be pulled out for activation.

 

[draggindakota]

My control doesn't have a button, you just pull it out to bypass the shifter as Jerry mentioned. But, I don't get any throttle movement at all unless it's in gear.

Choke is working properly with the key push.

 

[NJboatdude]

My control doesn't have a button, you just pull it out to bypass the shifter as Jerry mentioned. But, I don't get any throttle movement at all unless it's in gear.

Choke is working properly with the key push.

So when you pull the handle away from the gunnel, you can't move the level forward to add power? If that's the case there is something wrong with your throttle controller I think. Mine is very similar to yours and that is how it operates.

 

[draggindakota]

So when you pull the handle away from the gunnel, you can't move the level forward to add power? If that's the case there is something wrong with your throttle controller I think. Mine is very similar to yours and that is how it operates.

Correct. I can pull it out and move it forward but there is no change in the throttle. When in gear it seems to work correctly, although it's a bit stiff.

 

[jerryjerry05]

If it's stiff then the cables might need changing/adjusting??

 

[dougrie]

Hi draggindakota, interesting that you mention the runs-great-in-the-tank-but-not-the-sea issue... I've also got an 85hp and just about to pull my boat back out of the marina for exactly that problem. I found I could only get it started in the sea if I raised the motor to its highest trim point. Three cycles of carb cleaning, changed all fuel lines, changed fuel pump diaphragm, cleaned drain circuit... the one thing I've not done yet is pull the flywheel and check magnets. So, no solutions to offer, just popping up to say good luck and I'm hoping your solution might work for me too!

 

[jerryjerry05]

The magnet? it's one continuous magnet that fits inside the flywheel.
They do come loose but the motor won't start if it's loose.

Had one 88/85 that wouldn't start unless it was tilted all the way up and the choke was used as you turn the motor over, after it started, there was no problem the rest of the day.
Was at the ramp and backed the boat down the ramp, port motor wasn't starting and somehow the motor got tilted up and I hit the key and I heard the motor cough like it was gonna start, lowered it and it started right up.
From them on that's the only way it would start?????