Sudden Force 150 stoppage

[skeer]

While running at max RPM's today my Force 150 suddenly lost power and died. When I tried to re-start it it would only turn over very slowly. Although it did fire once it would not start. This happened about 1 hr (running time) after I put in a fresh tank of gas. The only quirk there is that , for the first time, I used Evinrude oil instead of Merc. I don't think that would be a problem.<br />Any ideas?

 

[sfels]

Re: Sudden Force 150 stoppage

Mine died 2 weeks ago and it turned out that it threw a ring and munched the #5 piston. Try a compression test to see if you've lost a cylinder. The 150 gets real unhappy, as in won't start again, if it coughs up a piston. Also, check the vacuum lines on the starboard side below and behind the fuel filters. They may have blown off...

 

[skeer]

Re: Sudden Force 150 stoppage

Thanx Steve I'll check out the vacuum line idea. I don't think it has munched a piston because it still turns over relatively freely but I'll be pulling the head if I can't find anythig obvious tomorrow.<br />I see you are from the Pend Oreille area.... my favorite lake anywhere. Used to camp at the Sam Owen Nat Forest in Hope. Beautiful spot...!!

 

[sony2001]

Re: Sudden Force 150 stoppage

WATER! Empty carb bowls,add feul stabilizer,purge fuel lineand try again.

 

[skeer]

Re: Sudden Force 150 stoppage

I considered the water thing but pulled the spark plugs just in case. Turns out there was NO compression on the #4 and very little on the #5. Wouldn't even blow air past your finger plugging the hole!!! Pulled the head off and #4 cylinder is very scuffed (some metal transfer from piston to cylinder). #5 is quite worn with some metal transfer. <br />My only puzzlement is why it would COMPLETELY die when the other three are still OK. Should have at least run very poorly on three...<br /><br />I guess there is a difference between Merc oil and all the others!!!! (expensive lesson learned... 30 gal of mixed gas going cheap.... Evinrudes only need apply...!!)

 

[skeer]

Re: Sudden Force 150 stoppage

Problem is definitely 2 thrashed cylynders. Took the block down to the nuts and found #4 & #5 pistons wrecked. #1 is on it's way out as well. Can anyone point me in the right direction for 3 used standard size pistons for a 1992 Force 150? I believe the diameter is 3.375 inches. Also, if anyone knows what the min/max limits are on the cylinders before I have to go to the first oversize it would be appreciated. Thanx for any help you can give.

 

[sfels]

Re: Sudden Force 150 stoppage

I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so. The Force 150 has a nasty habit of throwing rings which, naturally, destroys the piston. Before I decided to replace mine completely with a Mercury 150 EFI, I looked for rebuilt power heads on-line. They ran around $2400 US, which was the main reason I decided to replace the whole thing with a more modern and more reliable motor.<br /><br />If you get up to Pend Orielle again give me a holler.

 

[skeer]

Re: Sudden Force 150 stoppage

So Steve, what did you do with your old thrashed Force? Do you still have it?

 

[skeer]

Re: Sudden Force 150 stoppage

Note to all...<br /><br />Engine is back together and running great! Complete rebuild done (pistons, rings, cylinders and appropriate gaskets) for about $1100 CA.<br /><br />Couple of small (unrelated) problems though...<br /><br />I am in need of a couple of parts for this engine;<br /><br />1) The exhaust snout somehow(??) just 'fell' off while I was out running the boat in the lake.<br /><br />2) I found a broken intake reed while re-assembling the engine. It is not the reed that is listed in the micro-fiche at the Merc dealer. I have already been down that road. The reeds installed on this engine haverectangular petals with slightly rounded corners. They are NOT round on the ends like (probably) every other set of reeds in the world.<br /><br />The engine is a 1992 Force 150 'A' series. If anyone knows of used parts available please email me at g_hensel@hotmail.com.<br /><br />Thanx...