Greetings all: I am new to this forum and also quite confused as to what may be wrong with this engine. Let me start at the beginning. I recently "aquired" this engine from a friend that rarely ran this boat. After trying to run the boat on the water for the first time this year we discovered that it wouldn't idle properly,but would in fact run good @ wot. I started with the basics.New gas @ 50:1. New Spark plugs...2 types. 1st were UL77v and then tried L77JC4 which are currently in the engine. I then checked the fuel line and bulb which appear to be working correctly and then rebuilt the fuel pump. I removed the carbs and they were spotless although did appear to have the wrong idle jets. The book says the orfice should be .033 and they were more like for a 115 motor being .028. I drilled them with a #65 drill bit which is .035 which is .002 bigger than called for. I know that drilling jets is in some eyes is a no-no but I can get the right ones after problems are solved. Nevertheless, carbs are clean ,floats set according to book and should be fine.I did a compression test to find all cylinders between 122 and 126. I then checked the coils via the book and discovered the resistance to be bad on all 4 coils. 2 were giving me ohm readings near 2000 and 2 were giving me open winding readings. I thought this was the problem even though they would jump a 1/2 inch gap while cranking. I bought 4 new coils and they didn't change a thing. I have synched the carbs and timing according to the book and can run the engine with muffs on and it will idle in or out of gear at around 700 rpm.Runs great!! When I hook it to the tractor and put it in my pond it will immediatly die at an idle.I took the prop off and it still dies at an idle. The exhaust ports that are up high on the engine seem to be open and exhaust does come out of them. I am really stumped as to why this engine will run fine out of the water with muffs on and then when I put it in the water(pond) it refuses to run right. Before I got the engine, the stator had been replaced and I believe the power pack as well. This engine has 1977 ignition system for some reason, and my book as well as the engine is a 78.This is limiting me on my trobleshooting of the ignition. I will have one that covers a 77 tomorrow. However the only thing really left is the timer coils which I will check then. The engine model by the way is a 140883. I believe it is something in the exhaust though. I just wanted to get some opinions before I start tearing this thing apart. I'll have to admit that this one really has me stumped. While the carbs were off I could see that the reeds appeared to all be shut and without damage. Is there something inside the lower unit or exhaust that could be goofed up and not letting the exhaut out ?? An internal water leak?? I'll keep a close eye out for any questions that someone may have for me. Thanks for any help in advance...Randy
