40 Evinrude tried to run away.

No one else may have ever had this problem. My 40 Evinrude refused to run at idle or even below red line. From the turn of the key my engine wanted to run WOT. My local neighborhood boat mechanic could not find anything out of adjustment. He took the carbs off and found everything looking like he thought it should. Three other marinas were contacted for anyone who might have an idea with no luck. No matter where the settings were and the cables even disconnected, WOT. My son, a pretty good auto tech, but never worked on a boat in his life, took one look down the throat of the carbs, pulled out his screwdriver, and set the idle plate screws back to the position they had been in before they vibrated loose. The motor purrs like a kitten and roars like a lion when it is gassed. I guess the moral is - an engine is an engine. Always look for the obvious. Things can just move from vibration and get out of whack. Hope this gives someone hope and a little help when all looks hopeless. My kid probably saved me a couple of hundred bucks in time alone before a marina might have found the problem. If a motor has an "all of a sudden attack" like mine, there can't be much wrong. Don't get excited, be observant and remain logical. If you can't find the problem, get out of the box like he did and it will be clear what to do.

Re: 40 Evinrude tried to run away.

Find another mechanic (not referring to your kid). They should have caught that in a heartbeat if they checked the synchronization at all--which would be one of the first things to check.

BTW, you aren't through. Those screws are staked in and don't come loose unless somebody has removed them. If somebody did, the throttle shaft is shot and needs to be replaced. If one of those screws comes out and is swallowed, it is good-by powerhead.

Re: 40 Evinrude tried to run away.

Buy that boy a box of mustard biscuits...it's always the small stuff, just have to be able to see it.