Re: just bought 1989 Force 125hp - mistake?
if it runs great now then keep it well maintained and it should run until you get tired of looking at it. TnT will go out soon (if not already) becuase the rubber is almost 20 years old. You can get another 5 years out of system for under $200 by rebuilding motor/valve body. You have metal reeds so the powerhead isn't going to self destruct unless you make a mistake in maintenance. Impeller housing is aluminum and might be prone to saltwater pitting. It is best to replace housing every few years but you can also cold-weld and hone to get another season or two. Put impellers and fuel pump diaphrams on maintenance rotation, clean out varnish in carbs every spring, keep electrical connections clean, adjust idle while in gear, and keep away from mercury trained mechanics. If saltwater then staying on top of zinc anode is an absolute must. Done right, it should run you about $50 per year in self-maintenance and never leave you looking for a tow. It's going to be noisy, drink lots of gas, and have rather docile mid-range power - that's the nature of the beast. You can cut down noise by lining inside of engine cover with neoprene but otherwise it is what it is - cheap, simple, and reliable power with no frills. It's like the old Ford 2liter. Everybody loves to bash them but they just keep running anyway.
