Based on past discussions I know there are some folks on here that are more mechanically-inclined than I am. I have a 1998 Tohatsu 25 hp 2-stroke outboard. I used it for the first time this season yesterday and while it starts fine and runs ok at high speed, it won't idle correctly. It smokes, sputters, and eventually stalls. I can keep it running by giving it some throttle, but that obviously doesn't work well for trolling. It was running finseee when I put it away last fall, and I mixed fresh gas with Marine Stabil and some Sea Foam this spring. I use Marine Stabil in every tank.When this happened a couple of years ago it took 3 trips to the shop for them to get it right, and since I don't want to lose it for the next month, I was hoping somebody here might have a suggestion. I suspect a carb issue but taking it apart intimidates me. The motor runs great when it's right, but this issue is getting annoying. Thank you in advance for any suggestions.
I'll take "dirty carb" for $200 Alex.
Sounds to me like your low idle setting is dirty. I would MEASURE the screw turns on the low idle by screwing all the way in and unscrew it, push some gas threw it to flush it and reverse screw setting and try that.?That little needle valve is very small, wouldn't take much to restrict gas flow, the good thing is you can't hurt anything by trying.
Sounds right to me. Any "miracle juice" I can run through it? The Sea Foam didn't help a bit.
You can keep with the Sea Foam Mark but those ports are just so d**n small it doesn't take much crude to create a problem. You might get lucky but I doubt it will come out of it with just "miracle juice".
You are probably correct Eric, but it's worth a shot. For years I would always disconnect the fuel line at the end of the season and let the motor run completely out of fuel, and I never had a problem. I've been lazy the past few years and didn't take that additional step. You can bet I'll get back into the habit this fall.
MG 39 where would this =be? I am having very similar issues with my 2005 90HP Johnson. It starts fine but when in idle or low gear it shuts off. However, anything above low throttle and she runs fine. I realized that if I hold the choke in it revs up the engine and I can then shift into gear to get moving. I was thinking old gas but maybe my low idle setting is the issue as well. Any thoughts?
As mentioned previously, sea foam, dry gas and stabilizers are needed with the poor gas today. Every motor is different in some way or another when it comes to carburetion. Everyone seems to have their own way of caring for their motors. I don't drain gas in any motor I own. I tried it once and had gasket problems from dryness? You should be able to find the screw adjustments for high and low but if it's fuel injection, that's another deeper, complicated issue.