1989 Evinrude 28 HP sputtering/won't idle

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bergz22

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This was my grandpa's boat, he gave it to me when he passed. It is in really great shape and was hardly ever used, just sat in the garage. The engine sputters at idle and off idle, it sometimes puffs back out the carb. It runs really rough. It also idles real slow. I have checked the reeds, rebuilt the carburetor, new spark plugs, wires and ignition coils, water pump and lower unit seals, new fuel tank and fuel line, rebuilt fuel pump. Both cylinders are getting spark. Compression on both cylinders is 125 psi. I have the idle screw on the carb set at 1 1/4 turns out from all the way closed. I also have the little white screw you see at the end of the video turned all the way in. I have not driven the boat on the water yet. Sorry if the video is sideways, I didn't flip my phone while filming. It makes the one noise/sputter around 2:20.
 
oldboat1

oldboat1

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Sounds pretty good to me. I would pull off the remote throttle cable, and then set the idle stop screw to a slightly higher idle speed, then replace the cable. Test it without the remote cable until satisfied with idle speed. To my ear, the idle mixture (carb) seems good.
 
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bergz22

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oldboat1 said:
Sounds pretty good to me. I would pull off the remote throttle cable, and then set the idle stop screw to a slightly higher idle speed, then replace the cable. Test it without the remote cable until satisfied with idle speed. To my ear, the idle mixture (carb) seems good.
Click to expand...

Is the idle stop screw the white plastic screw with the spring at the end of the video? The manual shows a screw on the side of the carb but this one doesn't have it.
 
oldboat1

oldboat1

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Your 28 should have an idle mix screw at the top of the carb unless the carb was switched out. But don't confuse the idle mix screw (carburetor) with the idle stop screw (or other device) -- throttle. Different animals.

Based on your YouTube, the white screw on your motor is the throttle idle stop screw (the one your are adjusting in the clip). I'm suggesting you pull off the remote cable (throttle) and set that screw where you want it.

[ed. can see the carb adjustment needle in your video -- up at the top of the carb.]
 
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oldboat1

oldboat1

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Now, if you want to tweak the CARB idle adjustment screw a little, let the motor warm up at idle, then turn the needle clockwise slightly (about 1/8 turn) -- should get a slight increase in rpms -- slightly leaner. If the motor stalls, back out the needle counterclockwise. Very small adjustments up there.
 
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bergz22

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I pulled off the throttle cable and adjusted the white adjusting screw all the way in. Then adjusted the throttle cable out to meet the post on the throttle on the engine. The motor still idles really low, dies out in gear. Also there is a ticking sound coming from the motor. I tried to get close in the video to see if you can hear it. It also makes a puffing or backfiring sound every once in a while.

https://youtu.be/wpP27OaYr04
 
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