Re: 1983 mariner 90 hp serail# 6114457 no power in water when in forwad gear
Sounds like a fuel issue to me as well, but it is possible the gear case is binding up in forward gear (in addition to the fuel issue which seems the primary cause of the bogging).
Were there any filings in the gear oil when you checked and or refilled it, (VERY RECENTLY)?
Take out all the spark plugs and use the starter to turn over the engine on the trailer in both forward and reverse to see if there is any difference due to binding in forward gear.
You will need to jump the starter at the powerhead to override the neutral safety switch.
I'm skeptical of binding, and if the LU was in that bad of shape you surely would have metal shavings in the gear oil.
When was the last time you changed the fuel pump???
JR