This engine starts right up and runs great. However, I am having idling problems.
When I go to shift into either forward or reverse, it dies. It takes me a while but, I get going. Where do I adjust the idle?
Just went through the same thing after I put fuel stabilizer in my fuel tank. My marine store was pushing the stuff and it sounded like something I should do even though up until then the engine ran just fine. My symptoms were engine would not idle and stalled when shifted into gear. I tried adjusting the idle but it didnt help. From the forum helpers came the conclusion that the low speed idle jets were clogged. The fuel filter which was clean was filled with gunk. I rebuilt the carbs with the OEM kits. After that I went through the link and sync proceedure to adjust the idle and timing. Now it runs great. I also installed a water separating fuel filter. This weekend I replaced the fuel lines in the engine and from the tank to the engine with lines rated for alcohol blend fuels. The original 1990 lines were sloughing off rubber which had clogged the low speed jets. As others will tell you spending 40 or 50 dollars for the OEM service manual is money well spent. The two carbs took about two hours to clean and rebuild. The link and sync adjustment about an hour.
There is a large screw on the spark advance lever. When you adjust that screw, you are actually adjusting the idle timing on that engine-that's what sets the idle rpm's. You should shoot for 650-750 rpm when idling in gear with the boat floating normally in the water.
