1994 Mercury O/B sputtering/dying on take off

[Shawnee]

I have just acquired this 1994 Merc 90 and found that upon "punching" it ie pulling a skier up, it sputters and dies. If I bring idle up for a couple of seconds or go for a fast short ride, then hook up skier and go quickly, it is better. It usually needs to be feathered up from idle for a while to say 1000 rpm? (did not note tach exactly) but then it is good to go.

I am suspecting carbs (dirty or adjust) but in reading manual, it lists all sorts of things from fuel pickup to air in line to .... then in talking to others, (I guess I am doing that here ;-) ) I find even more suggestions, ie one guy suggested it was "dropping a coil", etc. I have ran a full tank of gas through it so it now has fresh gas (no difference)

I was wondering where you with experience would lean towards for me to start?

I have done many small engine carbs and automobile carbs but have no experience with outboard engines in general...any precautions particular to them?

The dealers offer a gasket kit or a carb kit but one dealer said she usually sells the gaskets only. The carbs generally only need a cleaning.. Agree? Hate to buy 3 complete kits at $45 each when all I need is 3 gasket kits at <$9 each.

Thanks
Shawn

 

[lostinboat]

Re: 1994 Mercury O/B sputtering/dying on take off

buy the full kits. They come with new needle valves and other parts you'll want when you rebuild the carbs.I tried to go cheap and buy just the gaskets and had to go back and put in full kits because my needle valves were sticking and had to be replaced. So needless to say I had to do the carbs twice. cheaper to do it right one time. Hope this helps.

 

[Shawnee]

Re: 1994 Mercury O/B sputtering/dying on take off

Thanks for the reply, lostinboat.

I had the boat in the water again yesterday and paid more attention to what it was doing...

It idles around 1100 rpm. If I can get it to around 2000, then I can open it up. I found that if I idle it with fast idle up a bit, then I could go pretty much right away (ie a little feathering)

I also noted max RPM at around 6000 but service manual says for that engine, it should be around 5250.

Is this adjusted via a throttle stop or does it mean I have the wrong prop? Of course, I backed off to the recommended max but figure, it has been ran at max many times.