Adjust my idle up a bit

[MDColson]

I have a 1989 Evinrude 70hp VRO that needs to have the idle adjusted up a bit. I have read up on this topic on this forum quite a bit, and someone even posted a very helpful picture.

As I understand it, this needs to be done with the boat in the water and with the engine in gear, and then adjust to 650-750 RPM. I plan to leave the boat on the trailer and just back it in the water.

Is this adjustment made with the engine running the whole time, or do I make the adjustments with the engine off, and then keep starting it check?

I appreciate your help in advance. -Mark

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Adjust my idle up a bit

doing it on the trailer can be dangerous. set your idle high (1,000) on muffs. then go to the river and then fine tune it with it running and in gear. take some one with you. you really want it as low as it will go, and still not stall when shifting.650 to 750 in gear is ok. get lower if you can.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Adjust my idle up a bit

Shouldn't be any problem to set the idle while it's on the trailer. It's done all the time. Just make sure the trailer is backed down so that the water level on the motor is the same as when it's floating. That way the backpressure in the exhaust is the same. Just crank it up and drop it in gear. Adjust the idle and you're done. No big deal.