Help with a 50HP Merc that Idles too Fast

[badger111]

I've had a 1981 50HP Merc in my garage for a year or so and I decided to get it running and put it on my dads fishing boat. I bought the outboard as a runner but have never tried it up until now (so this may be an issue the previous owner had with it?)
It has Tillotson carbs on it, I stripped and cleaned all the parts and blew out all the airways with compressed air, I bought two pump diaphram kits, new inlet needles and venturis and fitted them. I noticed that when I went to 'lightly seat' the idle mixture screws before backing them out 1 1/2 turns that they were wound all the way in? Anyhow, I lightly seated both of them and backed them out as per the manual.
I fired up the engine and ran great apart from idling too fast - I checked the obvious stuff, stop screw, primary pickup position, bent or not fully closed throttle shutter, choke fully open (no controls cables attached either) but I can't see anything.
Does anybody have any ideas (maybe has the wrong/worn main jet (wild guess!!))

Any help graciously received
Lee

 

[Maxz695]

Re: Help with a 50HP Merc that Idles too Fast

disconnect the cables and try again then readjust the cable barrles to conform with the lower idle position

 

[badger111]

Re: Help with a 50HP Merc that Idles too Fast

The cables are disconnected...

Many thanks
Lee

 

[badger111]

Re: Help with a 50HP Merc that Idles too Fast

I found the problem. There was a retaining clip on the trigger assembly that stops the wires from getting snagged during advancing and retarding the timing. It was bent and was jamming on a nut on the powerhead preventing the timing from fully retarding...
Happy days