Last Friday the outboard ran great, however, after running for a half hour at 3500 RPMs, the engine started sputtering and coughing. It sounded like there was water in the gasoline. The engine RPMs would drop from 3500 to around 1000, sputter/cough, then continue to jump up and down. Sometimes the engine would just shut off. I was able to get back to my dock by pressing the choke button when the RPMs would drop to around 1000. Sometimes this would prevent the engine from shutting off. When pushing the choke button, the RPMs would pick back up to around 2500, and it would run for a second or two, then sputter/cough and the RPMs would again drop to around 1000. Pressing the choke button would usually work, but several times the engine just stopped. It would always restart right away, but as soon as you gave it gas, it would start sputtering/coughing again.
Thinking the engine may have overheated, I checked to ensure there was water coming out of the engine. The water stream was warm, but not really hot, so I'm thinking it is not overheating. The horn in the console that is supposed to sound when the engine overheats never sounded.
Each time the engine quit, it restarted easily. Again, this leads me to believe the engine is not overheating.
Once I got back to the dock, the engine started and idled great.
Figuring this was water or trash in the fuel, I bought a new 6 gallon gas tank and hose. Filled the tank with fresh gas, and tried again Saturday.
Same thing happened again - the first half hour the engine ran very well, then the sputtering/coughing started again. Once again we limped back to the dock by occasionally pressing the choke button.
Prior to this, I had had the carbs rebuilt; the timing set; and new plugs installed.
Anyone have any idea what the problem may be?
Thanks, Bob
Thinking the engine may have overheated, I checked to ensure there was water coming out of the engine. The water stream was warm, but not really hot, so I'm thinking it is not overheating. The horn in the console that is supposed to sound when the engine overheats never sounded.
Each time the engine quit, it restarted easily. Again, this leads me to believe the engine is not overheating.
Once I got back to the dock, the engine started and idled great.
Figuring this was water or trash in the fuel, I bought a new 6 gallon gas tank and hose. Filled the tank with fresh gas, and tried again Saturday.
Same thing happened again - the first half hour the engine ran very well, then the sputtering/coughing started again. Once again we limped back to the dock by occasionally pressing the choke button.
Prior to this, I had had the carbs rebuilt; the timing set; and new plugs installed.
Anyone have any idea what the problem may be?
Thanks, Bob