Background: boat left me stranded last fall; was running fine 3/4 throttle about 4 or 5 miles out into the Gulf, and then bogged out and died. Would start up and run for about 10 seconds, and then die again.
So, I took it to a neigbohood "mechanic" who diagnosed the problem with water in the fuel for $250, then it was a broken timing cover (something under the flywheel) for another $100, and then a replacement stator for $125. Needless to say, every time I went back, this guy found something else wrong, and the fact he couldnt produce the old parts that he replaced made me think, THIEF!
So I had some words with this dude and brought the boat home. Took it out for the first time last Saturday, and it kept dying when it would start up. Before the breakdown, it would fire up and idol high until the temp came up, and would then come down to a lower RPM. Now it doesnt rev up, and then down; it just starts up, and putters out about 4 or 5 times until it gets up to temp.
Then, it kept dying in low idol (< 5 MPH). If I tried to dock it and go from low idol into neutral or reverse, it would die.
Needless to say, I dont want to go back to this "mechanic"... anyone have any idea of what it may be? Plugs are a year old, could it be that simple? Or, do I need to adjust the idol screws? He did tell me that one of the carbs was leaking fuel and one of the screws was all the way out or in, which caused it to get no fuel at high RPMs.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
So, I took it to a neigbohood "mechanic" who diagnosed the problem with water in the fuel for $250, then it was a broken timing cover (something under the flywheel) for another $100, and then a replacement stator for $125. Needless to say, every time I went back, this guy found something else wrong, and the fact he couldnt produce the old parts that he replaced made me think, THIEF!
So I had some words with this dude and brought the boat home. Took it out for the first time last Saturday, and it kept dying when it would start up. Before the breakdown, it would fire up and idol high until the temp came up, and would then come down to a lower RPM. Now it doesnt rev up, and then down; it just starts up, and putters out about 4 or 5 times until it gets up to temp.
Then, it kept dying in low idol (< 5 MPH). If I tried to dock it and go from low idol into neutral or reverse, it would die.
Needless to say, I dont want to go back to this "mechanic"... anyone have any idea of what it may be? Plugs are a year old, could it be that simple? Or, do I need to adjust the idol screws? He did tell me that one of the carbs was leaking fuel and one of the screws was all the way out or in, which caused it to get no fuel at high RPMs.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
