hello and thank you for looking. i have a 1980 Evinrude 85hp. this is new to me and i do not know the history. first time out all was good as long as i let it warm up after each time shutdown. next time out, starts at dock fine. take a 10 minute ride cut it off and it has difficulty starting. it finally starts but...when i try to take off it just dies like it is starving for fuel. this is tried until the battery dies and i get a tow back to dock. i had left the key on the night before so i called it weak batteries,charged them and dismissed it. went out again with no problems. fourth trip, i get a pretty good distance from the dock, fish awhile and get ready to go when the boat wont accelerate without stalling. finally it wont turn over so i make it to dock and pull the engine cover. i get a click from the solenoid and that's it. i mess with it a bit, checking connections and bumping it with a screwdriver (like an automobile). after awhile of messing with it it suddenly starts. elated i take off and get up to speed. cruising about 42 mph i approach a large number of boats and back off the throttle a bit and it suddenly dies. now i have nothing. another tow is in order. now when i turn it over the solenoid clicks. i pulled the solenoid off another motor i have and still the same issue. as i write this i am thinking it must be some kind of ground. any ideas. sorry for the long post. i am also not convinced the thermostat is installed. maybe it does not ever warm up. that might explain the hard starting and running it
