1990 175hp xp Evinrude questions

Hello to all, and thanks up front for any help I may get.
I have a few questions about my motor and alot of this is new to me...

Idle: I can run the engine all day when I give it some gas. runs really good, but when i pull it back to idle to shift in to gear, it dies.

Takeoff: I have got it to shift into gear a couple of times, by revaing it up and shifting into gear fast, but then it will not get up to plain.

Solenoid: I took the solenoid off to have it tested, and forgot to write down the color codes. I rem the top and the bottom connetions, but the two little connections, in the middle of the solenoid, im not sure of, i have a black wire and two yellow wires. I connected it back with the two yellows on the top of the two little connections, that is the top side of the selenoid, next ot the connection where the battery connects. and the black one of the bottom of the two little connections next to the one that connects to the starter.

Any help would be great.

Re: 1990 175hp xp Evinrude questions

hope this will help

Re: 1990 175hp xp Evinrude questions

yep, that did the trick, and THANKS! one down and two to go.

I was reading alot of things posted here and noticed in one of them that spark plugs where mentioned. Is there really a big differnece in using different brands of plugs?

Re: 1990 175hp xp Evinrude questions

Check out the price of a powehead - or even a single piston - and I think you'll agree it's not worth the chane to not run what's recommended.

As for the idle, let's start with the basics. How's the compression? Are the carbs clean? Fresh 87 octane? What's the idle rpm, in the water, in neutral?

And back to the plug question -- what plugs are in it?

Re: 1990 175hp xp Evinrude questions

Ok the orginal plugs are back in it, i mean new ones, the ones called for.

As for the idle, It will not stay idling when i put the throll up to shift it in to gear.
I can get it to idle if i give it some gas, say 1/4 stick. at which point its at 1200 rpms.
I have 93 octane in it. thats what it calls for, and I did empty both tanks and put new gas in the both.
The carbs look very clean, and I did spray them out with carb cleaner really good before I started it with the new gas.

compression? I do not have a way to test that at this time. any suggestions on best way to test?

Re: 1990 175hp xp Evinrude questions

I know the plugs are "the ones called for" but what are they?

If it won't stay running under 1200 rpm, something is wrong. Check compression - then check for spark - and if that's Ok then I'd clean the carbs. Soak them and install new kits.

If that motor is stock, and you're in the US, it doesn't need 93 octane. It'll run better on 87.

If you don't have a compression gauge then the best bet would be to take it to a qualified mechanic and get these things checked out.