Re: Force vs. Chrysler vs. Mariner
Force engines are no longer made, but parts are still available. IF you are willing to do your homework and learn how and why certain procedures are performed, AND if you are willing to do your own work, a Chrysler or Force engine up to the late 1980s and early 1990s will be an excellent value. They are inexpensive to buy, inexpensive to repair, and easy to work on.
If you do the work yourself, and do it correctly, and if you do the basic maintenance and keep oil in your fuel mix, they may very well run forever.
Understand that they are very old school design and will not give the same performance as, say, an equally rated Merc.
If you accept that, then you will be satisfied with the purchase of one.
HOWEVER: No matter what you buy, ASSUME that everything that can be wrong or out of adjustment is. You would be surprised at some of the things I have seen done to these engines. Before you ever even consider starting a used engine, set everything back to factory specs. Therefore a good manual is a must have. Factory is best, Clymers is acceptable.
Good example: Fellow brought me a 1990 90HP Force to get ready for his repower. he bought it cheap, but it was missiing control box, cables, battery cables, and wiring cable. Starter was filled with black water and non functional. Replaced them then checked carbs. They looked in excellent condition but the low speed needles were set incorrectly. One carb had a bent float pin which caused float to stick, float level was too high on one carb, and all three were not properly synchronized. Choke solenoid was improperly set and chokes would not fully close. P.O. said--INSISTED-- that the engine ran. Yeah! If you could have started it, it may have run, but not well.
However, the engine has excellent compression and beautiful spark on all three plugs. When I get done with it, it will fire on the first turn and run like a cat with its tail on fire.
