1984 35hp Mercury

[HTG]

This engine now has two different problems, I need to figure out if I can fix them before having to take it to a mechanic. The first is that it is dying at idle and at the lowest speed. It is a gas hose issue, How can I adjust it to suck on the gas hose harder at idle, so it won't keep dying? I realize it probably a carburetor issue but that one of the areas I don't know much about. Or is that a compression issue? If it is how can it be adjusted? I just put in new sparks plugs which helped but didn't fix it.

The other issue is that I'm having difficulty getting it to go into reverse and when I do it won't engage. The engine will rev up but it won't move. Will I have to replace the switch box or could it be something else first? Anyone know how this can be fixed?

 

[racerone]

You can not adjust anything on the motor to suck harder on the hose.-----The switch box Is an ignition part and has nothing to do with switching gears.----Maybe you meant throttle / control box.------But I do believe you need a manual before you go work on your motor ---Sorry ----Mistakes on your motor can be EXPENSIVE to fix.

 

[HTG]

I just found that I might have to adjust the idle screw. Is there anything else that I should check?

 

[Mark ofs]

I have a '85 mercury 35hp that my father-in-law gave us. We replaced the plugs, fuel filter and water pump impeller, then took it out and ran great the first 4-times out after having been in storage for 11yrs. First time out this year started fine first 2-times and wouldn't start again leaving us at the other end of the lake.
To get it running again we needed to replace the fuel pump it was disintegrating (replacement parts were $8.95), clean the carburetor (bought a carb repair kit with all gaskets, needles, welch plug etc - cost was only $54.95), replace the steel gas tank with a new plastic tank, complete new fuel line system from tank to motor plug, and needed to replace the plug on the fuel line that plugs into the motor as the O-ring had disintegrated. I had never taken out a carburetor before, but this is actually a fairly easy process.