2000 Mercury 200hp (carb) timing specs

[ThomW]

Hey everyone. I am just wondering if anyone knows the correct max timing specs for a 2000 Mercury 200hp carb outboard. In the manual I was looking at it states that the max timing is set at 24 BTDC on one page, but then also states 20 BTDC on a different page. Should it be 24 or 20 BTDC?

Also, I have heard that if setting the cranking timing, with boat not in the water, you should set the timing 4 degrees less than what the specs actually call for. So if it was actually 24 BTDC, I would set it to 20 and it would actually be 24 when in the water at WOT? Is that correct? Thanks for any and all help you guys can give me here.

 

[ThomW]

Also, I am confused as to whether my motor has an Idle stabilizer that needs to be disconnected before setting the timing. I believe it has an Idle Speed Control box, does that get disconnected before setting the timing? Thanks!