Tuning up an 82 Mercury 850 85hp outboard

[MillerSVT]

Re: Tuning up an 82 Mercury 850 85hp outboard

We got the timing set, man does it seem to run better now. At idle it was already advanced to 6 degrees BTDC before we adjusted it!!

Now the only problem it has is that the throttle pickup number 2, when it goes from full advanced timing to full open carbs, happens in the last couple of inches of the throttle arm moving, it's like 2/3 of the throttle arm is spark advance and slight throttle advance and the last 1/3 is hard to push down and goes the rest of the way. It's not smooth at all. Also it seems that the main throttle arm pull the high idle arm up with it on it's way and I have to hold it down while punching it.

On top of that, it doesn't like to return it all the way to the throttle stop.

Do I just need to open the controls and lube em up? Or is this is issue with the throttle cable?

 

[MillerSVT]

Re: Tuning up an 82 Mercury 850 85hp outboard

Any ideas about the controls acting up???

 

[Wingedwheel]

Re: Tuning up an 82 Mercury 850 85hp outboard

If you're referring to your forward controls, see how they work when disconnected.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Tuning up an 82 Mercury 850 85hp outboard

The throttle cable should be adjusted to force the throttle to close when in neutral. This is called preload. The carbs should also lose unless the springs are bad.

 

[MillerSVT]

Re: Tuning up an 82 Mercury 850 85hp outboard

I was going to preload it, but the black end that connects to ther throttle arm would slide over the metal tube the cable runs in. Also with it being difficult to reach full open throttle, I didn't want to risk snapping an old cable.

Any idea why the high idle control lifts itself as I move the main throttle control?