1992 Force 150hp idle and low gear problems.

[Danthefishman]

The 150hp force outboard on my trophy WA is having trouble at idle and when i put it in gear slowly. It idles at about 200 rpms and when i click it in gear it dies. I have to start it and quickly engage it into gear past the point where it is dying. I took off the engine cover and the idle went up to where it should be (500-600 rpm). tried carb cleaner, and wondering if its not getting enough air. Wondering if anyone can help or has had this problem also. Thanks

[Sea Chaser 12]

Exactly what is happening to mine.I have new 15 months old 115 mercury 4 stroke 350 hours.Under warranty but I put gas treatment from west marine and started using super unleaded,it runs a lot better but still doing the same thing once in awhile.I think I need to run it longer as soon as I can and maybe we have to change the air filters.
Are you using super unleaded gas?

[Danthefishman]

I only run chevron gas in it due to it being an old force motor. I thought about trying to mess with the linkages and turn up the idle because i cant find an idle adjustment screw, but then it wont do it for me when i run it in the driveway so its being a pain. Not sure where the air filters are on the thing i only know that when i pull the cover off the idle is perfect. somehow its not getting enough air flow, but not sure how to fix that. Let me know if you have any luck with anything else you try and i will do the same. What gas treatment did you put in from west marine? thanks

[inSTANt bendo]

There should be a screw to adjust the "butterfly" valves that regulate the airflow.....sounds air starved to me and the valves need to be adjusted to open up more when you put it in gear and throttle up.

[Danthefishman]

Are those the screws that are on each individual carburator towards the top? thanks

[Alfred]

Only adjust the carbs if you know what you are doing. If you start doing things, right down how much you turn so you can return everything back to the begining. There is nothing worse for a mechanic to try to make repairs when someone has tweeked everything out 180 deg. After you try to make adjustments on the screws you should ck to make sure the carbs are in synch. If you have an outboard, I do not know how you can adjust the valves. I though outboards only hadd reed valves , which do not adjust. Only ck if they are not seating correctly. I think they would back fire if they were messed up. Usually carbs are adjusted by turning the misture screw in all the way till they stop, do not tighten hard only a little resistance. Make sure you count how many turns in. They should be about 1.5 to 3 turns. You can find out via a mechanics book for the engine. Open each screw to what the setting is. Start the engine and adjust in our out, until engine runs at the correct idle. The book will explain. To synch the carbs, Make sure both have the carb plate just cracked for idle. You can ck by looking down the throat of the carbs. You do this with the
linkage disconnected from the cable throttle, so the carbs are free to open and return by the spring.. Hope this helps some. I took some class's at South Western college in Chula Vista. The teacher is certified in more than one engine Manf..

[Global West Marine]

Don't mess with the idle screws yet. You need to figure out why the idle is changing when you lift the hood. Either the air intakes are cloged or the hood is coming in contact with something on the motor. Like the ignition or linkage.

[MATTY J]

Not sure if this is true, but I was warned on spraying too much cleaner into the intake on older two strokes. I was told it can thin out the oil in the motor. Is this true?

To me it definitly sounds like there is a restriction of air. Look on the inside of your cowling. If you have insallation laminated to the inside of the cowling, make sure it's completely laminated so it does not droop down when the cowling is on. This hapened to me and restricted the airflow, but also the flywheel cut up the foam and sent particles into the carbs.

[bunker hill]

Not sure if this is true, but I was warned on spraying too much cleaner into the intake on older two strokes. I was told it can thin out the oil in the motor. Is this true?

It's true, spaying any solvent, gasoline, either wd40 anything that doesn't have oil will lean the oil/fuel ratio. As far as adjusting the carbs... DON'T On every control cable there is an adjustment to lengthen or shorten the cable, what happens over time is that the cables and all other pardts, loosen up or wear. Adjust the cables and idle will be solved

[skipjack-20]

I had a force 120 outboard for a few years on my last boat, the plenum is under the handle on the hood, it should be open, no restriction. I would recommend for you to do before any adjustments to your carbs, run a compression check on all cylinders, those damn forces have problems with rings either sticking or breaking. check the status of your plugs, they should all look the same and coffee color. don't mess with the carbs until you get your self a clymers or seloc to show you the proper procedure, and do it in the water not in your drive way.

[Sortasober]

Sell it, nothing but problems with force motors

[Danthefishman]

just changed the plugs and wires last week. did a compression check and all cylinders are good. boat runs great and has for a while, just now started this. If I had the money trust me, i would dump that force and put a 4 stroke on it. Im 24 and it took me long enough to save up for this boat so i can fish offshore, a new motor is WAY out of my budget. I need to make this thing last as long as it can. im gonna run this thing till its dead. I think I might check the hood for that insulation restricting air flow because i noticed it is starting to fall apart. hopefully none of it got sucked up into the carbs also i know where i can adjust the linkages and turn the idle up, there is alot of slack in it now and that might be it also. thanks for the help let me know if anyone has anything else to try.