force lower unit

[yz42]

I have a 1989 force 125 that is making a groaning sound when put into gear. Worse in reverse but still there in forward. Now it won't go into neutral. I got it home and drained the lower unit to inspect for metal shavings and there is a piece that the drain plug goes through that dropped down and now I can't refill it. That's the least of my worries compared to the groaning and lack of neutral. Any thoughts on this?? I'm afraid of having to buy another lower unit for $1200. Any help would be appreciated!!<br />P.S. I'm starting to hate myself for buying a Force!!

 

[fishthebay]

Re: force lower unit

Don't know a lot about your problem, but I have seen several FORCE lower units on E-bay for about the $300 range. Go to e-bay motors and under boat/watercraft parts and type in FORCE.

 

[fishthebay]

Re: force lower unit

Here is a link where one is currently at $99.00.<br /><br /> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1850434804

 

[waterguy]

Re: force lower unit

I have a 1997 75hp Force and have had very good luck with it. My dealer tells me that any Force newer than 1996 is a very good motor. He said that Mercury bought out Force in 1996. They completely revamped the engine and started putting Mercury lower units on them. He said that the ones build before 96 were not very good. I'm sorry you are having trouble. Hope you get it fixed. Good Luck

 

[wvit100]

Re: force lower unit

You say there's a piece the drain plug goes thru? You didn't take the screw out on the side of the lower unit did you? The drain plug is on the very bottom of the lower unit. The screw on the side is the pivot point for the shifting lever. If that is what you took out and it dropped down you will need to take all the gears out to get to it and put it back. <br /><br />I have this same motor, the drain plug is a small allen screw on the bottom of the lower unit just in front of the skeg.

 

[yz42]

Re: force lower unit

wvit, that's exactly what I did, (unfortunately). Is that why that "shift rod" can be pulled up? If so, can I fix this or are the gears set to some specs that I can't reset?

 

[wvit100]

Re: force lower unit

You can fix it, you will need to get a manual and new seals. You can also get a look at all the gears while you in there and see what was causing the noise. You can get a manual through this site or I got mine at NAPA.<br /><br />They should have stamped "DO NOT REMOVE" above this screw.

 

[wvit100]

Re: force lower unit

That's the reason you can't pull the shifter up. If you put the screw back in it's probably keeping the shifter from moving at all. If you take it out it would probably move up and down but wouldn't cause anything to shift. The screw is the point that the shift lever rotates around.

 

[yz42]

Re: force lower unit

I have the lower unit off of the motor, so I was able just now to tip the l\u back and forth until the cam or whatever it is lined up with the hole. I put the pivot pin back in, but it still doesn't shift. Any thoughts?

 

[yz42]

Re: force lower unit

Also as far as the "do not remove" label they must have forgotten that on my motor...nice

 

[wvit100]

Re: force lower unit

I meant they should have stamped "DO NOT REMOVE" here. My manual says in big bold letters not to remove this screw. You need to get a manual and look at how all these gears and shifters work together inside, I've never had mine apart. You said that it growled when putting it into gear. On most any boat motor when you put them into gear you need to put them in quickley, don't let them slip into or out of gear. There isn't a clutch and the gears engage as they are moved together by the shifter. You don't want to slowly engage them, they will slip over each other banging the teeth together. You want to quickley engage the gears, they should make a nice muffled clunk, this reduces the chance of breaking off the gears teeth.

 

[yz42]

Re: force lower unit

Thanks for the info.. took the l\u into a mech to fix the shift problem. The groaning sound was made when it is in gear, not when shifted, but thanks again.