Johnson 25hp, runs fine with muffs, dies in water

[peedeeboater]

I have a Johnson 25hp,(1985 I believe). It idles and runs fine with the muffs. When in the water, it dies when I give it the gas. Seems like it is flooding or starving. Thus far I have: Changed plugs, cleaned carb but did not rebuild, float is parallel when carb upside down. Cleaned the fuel pump. It cranks with either plug disconnected. Have changed oil in lower case; it was kind of dark, but not too bad. New gas, and bulb & line only 1 year old. Pumping the bulb makes no difference. It ran fine the last time I used it (last year). Any ideas?

 

[peedeeboater]

Re: Johnson 25hp, runs fine with muffs, dies in water

I need to add, occasionally when running in the water at slow speed and attempting to speed up, it will surge a time or two, but then soon dies.