My vote is carb clean as well. Simple easy carbs. As soon as you remove the bowl that usually tells the story.
Gas coming out the vent hole typically means dirty carb when priming.
Gravity is off from global warming mostly caused by all the electric motors now.
Really, though. If it's that much of a concern, drain, put in the right amount and study it again. Be happy it's not back to a quart over and full of water.
Could be the coil under the flywheel....
My rule of thumb, buy oem first if it's available and cost is okay, Sierra next and then CDI or nos/eBay. Many agree with this strategy.
Let us know how it goes.
Smoke or steam? Blown head gasket, crack in block? Does the paint on the head looked discolored from an overheat? Water going up and out of the motor doesn't mean it traveling where you need it to go not to mention the hose test probably means nothing. You would have to duplicate pressure and...
Sounds like a bad wire....you had no spark, disconnected a wire, spark, hooked the wire back up and you still have spark. Corrosion.
Not equally on all 4 plugs?
Are you doing a spark jump test on them?
Not sure if your getting OEM or not, but if you aren't, I'd think about that one.
Might just be me though....last week I just purchased 2 brand new ignition coils for my 85 30hp even though they were working. Coils lose "energy making abilities" when they get older and just like the power pack...
How do you know it's an 83? Can you post a picture link? Pull up you picture and hit the share button....that's an option.
If not or whatever your part number comes up with 582452 or 0582452. New ones (OEM) are $87.68 and that's the cheapest or 3 kinds, sierra and CDI. At that price I wouldn't...
Peeing means nothing. Thermostat or maybe you sucked something up. Alarm working properly?
Once you rule that out we can move on to a possible fuel problem.
Surging is typically a fuel issue so your not out of the woods diagnostic wise.
Past owner said piece of grass? Compression check before spending anymore time on this engine.
