1998 Baja 5.7 carb loosing power/ low rpms will not plane

[bradbaja]

I have a Baja sidewinder with 5.7 Merc Alpha 1 gen2. I had an issue with engine coupler, my mechanic could not get to it for 3-4 weeks. He replaced the coupler , I got the boat back, now
it does not run properly/ smooth. It will back fire through carb, only go up to 2000 rpm when trying to plane out. I can eventually play with throttle a bit and sometimes get it on plane. When on plane it runs good but max's out at 3900 rpm, not getting top speed out of it. My mechanic said change fuel/ water sep. I did, and no water appeared in fuel from that filter. I changed cap and rotor as well. I am a bit stumped as the boat did not do this before coupler issue. The engine also runs on diesels after turning it off. No screen filter in inlet to carb. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, Brad

 

[alldodge]

the boat did not do this before coupler issue.

The mechanic broke a spark plug, got wires out of order or something else to make this happen. He caused the problem, now U get to find it

Check the firing order and timing. Pull plug wires off to make sure their not damaged

 

[bradbaja]

The mechanic broke a spark plug, git wires out of order or something else to make this happen. He caused the problem, now U get to find it

Check the firing order and timing. Pull plug wires off to make sure their not damaged

 

[bradbaja]

I know right, fun... I am wondering if he bumped distributor possibly and knocked it out of time. Wires and plugs should not have been touched just lifting engine out to do coupler

 

[alldodge]

Agree, but its backfiring and dieseling, so that's either wires out of order or timing is off. Neither should have changed but one or more did

 

[bradbaja]

Agree, but its backfiring and dieseling, so that's either wires out of order or timing is off. Neither should have changed but one or more did

agreed, thank you