Recommended engine idle when in gear and afloat?

Kevoz

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jun 8, 2010
Messages
91
Have searched to no end for the correct engine idle for my engine, 87-88-4.3 Mercruiser with Rochester 4BBL carb...it only says to warm engine up @ 1500 rpm and then adjust to recommended rpm...I looked for the 2BBL version and it says 600-700rpm, but I just need to have the forum's savvy experts make me a believer...any thoughts or suggestions?
Taking the newly recommissioned money pit out for a splash tomorrow afternoon, WooHoo! My job here is done!

cheers,
Kevo
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: Recommended engine idle when in gear and afloat?

You should have looked in the OEM service manual. would have saved you a lot of searching. The LX model was the one using the 4bbl carb, doesn't really matter, the idle speed is the same for 2 bbl and 4bbl.


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a70eliminator

Captain
Joined
Sep 9, 2007
Messages
3,762
Re: Recommended engine idle when in gear and afloat?

Yes 650-700 in forward gear.. they don't tell you this but that is with the drive submerged and not on muffs right?
 

NHGuy

Captain
Joined
May 21, 2009
Messages
3,631
Re: Recommended engine idle when in gear and afloat?

Yup 650. Have a great dunk, stay near help til you trust her though!
 

Kevoz

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jun 8, 2010
Messages
91
Re: Recommended engine idle when in gear and afloat?

Thanks for the reaffirmation on the idle speeds, friends....I will be on a small lake and I have 2 long paddles and a tow rope, just in case, I took it out with a cracked block and had a great little 30min ride till she started puking oily slop out every imaginable orifice, lol...drove her back to the ramp with zero troubles, well except for the bad engine, haha...
cheers,
Kevo :D
 

cannonford57

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Mar 5, 2008
Messages
353
Re: Recommended engine idle when in gear and afloat?

kevoz,the don has spoken........nuff said...
 
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