88 mercury 200 idle problem

[Ryans Toy]

I have a 88 200hp black max.The engine will only start with advanced idle and choke when cold or hot. The idle is at 800 rpm most of the time and then jumps up to around 1500 and then down,then dies 30-60 sec later.Then i try and restart and it fires once and dies repeatedly.I just about lost boat going thru pass this weekend,12 ft waves,rocks on both sides and a dead motor not good! I advanced idle to 4000 rpm it started and speed shifted at 2000 to keep motor going,and got the hell out of there.Any ideas on were to start? motor has new plugs,disconnected oil pump from previous owner and 140 cold psi compression on all pistons.the only weird sound i hear is clanging in engine at 1500 rpm and up. it sounds like a hammer hitting a piece of aluminum.timing off?

 

[steve forsythe]

Re: 88 mercury 200 idle problem

i would like to hear a reply to this...as my merc 200 sometimes does the same thing. I have to start it with high rpm's...not sure why, but once mine is fired she usually stays going.

 

[kenthrussell]

Re: 88 mercury 200 idle problem

hi fellas yes i too have a problem with starting my 89 200hp merc , it has to very wet to start, even after a warm up have to up the throttle a bit and then back it off and it will idle, from what i can tell they like their fuel to start cold or hot,mine has carbs. i do know one thing is if you go to the beach and tilt your motor up and leave it for like 20 mins when you go to start you have to go to a cold start scene again as all the fuel in the carbs runs out, after there running they work great, seems the same with all of them as i have checked into this quite deep, .......