Re: 88hp evinrude 1987
If the engine runs fine at mid and high rpm's once you get it into gear-likely you have a carb problem. When that engine idles, the carb butterflys are closed. At idle, special idle passages in the carb provide fuel. If any fuel dries up in these passages (after years of use,) the restriction is enough to make for poor idle and it may die when shifting into gear. Likely you will need to completely disassemble the carbs and clean all the internal passages with a carb cleaner similar to a Gumout type product. Check to see if the choke (primer solenoid) is functioning when the key is pushed in. If this solenoid is not working it is nearly impossible to start when the engine is cold.
