FingerLaker
Seaman Apprentice
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2018
- Messages
- 37
Hello, all, and Happy Spring, most of you are likely in the water already...
Thanks again for all the help on my easy issue last year with my '87 Force 85 HP, a basic idle adjust using the idle screw took me through the whole season with no stalling at shift. At the end of the season, it did it on the last outing for a bit (idled a bit too low) but the water and temp was much colder, so I think spring adjustment should clear all up again for the year.
However, in the fall, we also became aware that it doesn't seem we are getting full power, being pretty happy with the way this motor kicks the Bayliner right up onto a nice plane even on the choppy Potomac and its bays. Checking the opening just from the tower, we appear to be not even getting 70-80 percent of fully open throttle plate! Though, this is a guess, since I can't see the plates with this motor's curved air scoop. The control arm is not quite all the way to the horizon (-10 deg. or so) when its seems stiff and at the end; we don't force it. So, I think we may be either 1) finally getting a bit of a throttle cable stiffness or need for lubrication or adjustment (likely the actual cause of the idle stray); or 2) out of adjustment at the tower shaft; For starters, I would love to know where to learn more about lubricating the cable and if any maintenance at the helm should be conducted. I am wary of removing the assembly, as I have no desire to fiddle with things if they aren't the problem. The Clymer doesnt really suggest any particular lube points for cables, other than key points in the power area. So, any recommendations for maintenance/sources of info for the throttle cable itself, and the control, and what should really constitute regular maintenance, would be appreciated...
Back to the carbs: after consulting the Clymer, it has two separate sections on adjustment of the throttle cam (primarily for idle to lower range speeds, I take it) and then the section on the wide-open throttle linkage adjust. Doesn't it make sense to do the latter first, and then move back to do the cam as more of a fine-tune? The adjustment of the link rod is likely going to have a big impact on overall throttle adjustment, no? So, this seems sensible, but it doesn't actually say to do it in that order. I'm sure you Force-ers are doing this in your sleep by now for your motors, maybe every year, but I'm only going into my third year with this raft and we didn't know we could expect more out of this engine. Any guidance and suggestions you may have is truly appreciated! Happy 2021!
Finger-Laker
'87 Bayliner Capri/85 H.P. Force on the Big Muddy Potomac
'89 Maxum 1900SR/Mercruiser 3.0 on Cayuga's Shining Waters (NY)
Thanks again for all the help on my easy issue last year with my '87 Force 85 HP, a basic idle adjust using the idle screw took me through the whole season with no stalling at shift. At the end of the season, it did it on the last outing for a bit (idled a bit too low) but the water and temp was much colder, so I think spring adjustment should clear all up again for the year.
However, in the fall, we also became aware that it doesn't seem we are getting full power, being pretty happy with the way this motor kicks the Bayliner right up onto a nice plane even on the choppy Potomac and its bays. Checking the opening just from the tower, we appear to be not even getting 70-80 percent of fully open throttle plate! Though, this is a guess, since I can't see the plates with this motor's curved air scoop. The control arm is not quite all the way to the horizon (-10 deg. or so) when its seems stiff and at the end; we don't force it. So, I think we may be either 1) finally getting a bit of a throttle cable stiffness or need for lubrication or adjustment (likely the actual cause of the idle stray); or 2) out of adjustment at the tower shaft; For starters, I would love to know where to learn more about lubricating the cable and if any maintenance at the helm should be conducted. I am wary of removing the assembly, as I have no desire to fiddle with things if they aren't the problem. The Clymer doesnt really suggest any particular lube points for cables, other than key points in the power area. So, any recommendations for maintenance/sources of info for the throttle cable itself, and the control, and what should really constitute regular maintenance, would be appreciated...
Back to the carbs: after consulting the Clymer, it has two separate sections on adjustment of the throttle cam (primarily for idle to lower range speeds, I take it) and then the section on the wide-open throttle linkage adjust. Doesn't it make sense to do the latter first, and then move back to do the cam as more of a fine-tune? The adjustment of the link rod is likely going to have a big impact on overall throttle adjustment, no? So, this seems sensible, but it doesn't actually say to do it in that order. I'm sure you Force-ers are doing this in your sleep by now for your motors, maybe every year, but I'm only going into my third year with this raft and we didn't know we could expect more out of this engine. Any guidance and suggestions you may have is truly appreciated! Happy 2021!
Finger-Laker
'87 Bayliner Capri/85 H.P. Force on the Big Muddy Potomac
'89 Maxum 1900SR/Mercruiser 3.0 on Cayuga's Shining Waters (NY)
