Re: Carb Butterfly not opening - 50 hp Blue Stripe Merc
yeah... get a manual, doubtful that the cables started out out of adjustment, likely they are NOW out of adjustment since you tried adjusting them.
outboard engines are timed completely different than most other engines you come across. the 1st 1/3 to 2/5th of throttle movement (on your tiller or remote control) moves only the timing and this takes you from low idle to initial acceleration. Then the carb(s) begin to open and the engine makes more power. yes the carbs should open wide open with the butterflies fully open (parallel with the carb throat) at the very end of the tiller or remotes travel. That is the way almost all outboard carbs/ignition systems work.... do not try to make them work like a 2 stroke dirt bike, or like a 4 stroke car when it comes to ignition and carb.
My guess is that all the engine needs at this point (provided you can get the cables back to where they supposed to be) is a link and sych to get the carbs to open fully. Unfortunately it also sounds like a carb rebuild will likely be in order (just a guess) as I think your main jet is clogged.
when you say will push the boat... does that mean that it revs and pushes the boat... or that it never reaches operating RPM as in fuel delivery issue? Just trying to make sure we do not have a spun prop issue (unlikely from discription but always worth checking)
also.... as funny as this sounds is the vent open on the fuel tank(s) because that can seriously hamper your engines performance as well if the vent is not opened.
good luck, we will help you, strongly suggest factory manual... not a seloc or clymer.
