looking to buy a Force motor, but....

jimsbuddy · 09-05-2008, 06:02 AM

Need some opinions... Found a great deal on a Force 125 with a blown head gasket... Little leary of buying a engine with issues. anyone with experience getting hard parts for Force brand engines??? Anyone know if they are a bag of worms or worth the repair work. It would be an winter project, so there would be no hurry.

thx

Road Rage · 09-05-2008, 06:39 AM

Keep looking. You DO NOT want to buy this headache. Those Force motors from the late 80's and early 90's aren't worth their weight is dog poo. What you might save now will cost you later. If it were a motor from the late 90's I'd say "Maybe," but those 125's are baaaad news.

dcgrav · 09-05-2008, 07:44 AM

I have one and I DO NOT RECCOMEND THEM! I put 20hrs on a motor i bought ( with 15 hours on it) and lower unit siezed and now its cheaper to buy a new motor than it is to fix.....keep looking and for your wallets sake dont buy a FORCE!
Dave

BassinFever · 09-05-2008, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimsbuddy

Anyone know if they are a bag of worms or worth the repair work.
thx

Run baby run!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PRINCEMASTER · 09-05-2008, 11:57 AM

I had a force 50 on my last boat and it was the biggest mistake i ever made. First it was the head gasket and after that was replaced found out the crank had trashed itself. For what ened up spending and still never right I could have bought a new motor. Live and learn.

SeaSparrow · 09-05-2008, 04:13 PM

We had an 85hp and it was a ***! Listen to all these voices of experience and don't even think about going down that path!!!!

Pagorits · 09-05-2008, 04:44 PM

Run fast as you can.

jimsbuddy · 09-06-2008, 07:03 AM

Ok, so you think its a good deal... Good I will jump on it today... NOT.

In reality, I'm glad I asked you guys. Only experience I have with the force is a 70 my buddy has on his 16ft. He probably only had it out 5x in the last 2 years and that is only with me fishing with him. But I don't call that a lot of water time. So since your all are saying to runnn I will run like forest gump from this unit I found for sale.

Oh I did call the guy yesterday, and he told me he already tore it down. I asked " like is it in pieces?" he said yes, but the cylinders are still in it... That didnt make me very warm and fuzzy.

thanks all for the input

Bloom · 09-06-2008, 07:32 AM

Force outboards enjoyed the same, wonderful reputation as Chevy Vegas. It was as if the pistons and other innards were not happy being confined to a crankcase.

You made a sound decision and get 87 points, but you lose 124 points for even considering it.

Starfish · 09-06-2008, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bloom

It was as if the pistons and other innards were not happy being confined to a crankcase.

That just hit my funny bone this morning... perfect!

BassinFever · 09-06-2008, 11:23 AM

Congratulations guy's, we just saved a fellow boater a huge headache!

jimsbuddy · 09-06-2008, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassinFever

Congratulations guy's, we just saved a fellow boater a huge headache!

Yes thanks... getting a motor project for the winter time is all good with me, but getting a winter headache would only irritate my family... I would be winning and complaining the winter long. Not a pretty sight for a grown man.

fishkisser · 09-06-2008, 07:16 PM

May The Force Not Be With You ...( as far as that motor is concerned )

timinthegorge · 09-07-2008, 02:25 PM

You guys are SO right..... I remember looking at a plastic boat with a Force on it back in the 80's.

I remember calling a fishin' buddy (and long time boat owner) and asked what he thought about Force engines. His immediate laugh told me everything I needed to know.....

Deciding to Run away..... and never look back...... is the right choice.

woodsy188 · 09-08-2008, 07:27 AM

I was just having a conversation about Force this weekend.

Who makes Force? Is Force it's own company, or an entity of something else.

Just curious.

Pagorits · 09-08-2008, 08:11 AM

I think years back Force was built by Chrysler and then Mercury bought them.

Bird Dog · 09-08-2008, 11:32 AM

Yep- Chrysler upper and Merc lower. I've got one. It's a '97 120HP. Runs very well but I always cross my fingers when I take it out.

BD

jimsbuddy · 09-08-2008, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bird Dog

but I always cross my fingers when I take it out.

thats not what I want to have to do....

BassinFever · 09-09-2008, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bird Dog

Yep- Chrysler upper and Merc lower. I've got one. It's a '97 120HP. Runs very well but I always cross my fingers when I take it out.

BD

I wouldn't buy one, but if you have one and it is running good and if you take very good care of it you will likely have decent results with it. They are very simple engines and with proper maintenence they will last a long time. If it breaks, well then that's what the crossed fingers are for!

fish-on-bend · 09-09-2008, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishkisser

May The Force Not Be With You ...( as far as that motor is concerned )

That there is funny.

I too am a former Force owner. Bought a new 15 in about '85-86. It never did troll for me, kept dying at low rpm. I almost gave up fishing. I sold it in 1990 and a month later the guy I sold it to had a for sale sign on it.