Help? Surging at high throttle under load?

[erikpn]

1987 Force 35. It runs fine in a tank at neutral, and it also runs fine at slow speeds. When I open up the throttle, either it winds up and I get going and then it stalls down or the rpms stay low and surge up randomly. It feels like a car randomly stomping on the gas and then suddenly letting go. It'll stay steady at low rpms and seem to run fine.

Is this a carburetor/fuel issue?

The last time I ran it out, one of the spark plug wires got pulled loose as well and it felt as slow running on one cylinder as it did during the down parts of the rpm roller coaster. Could this have damaged the outboard? Is it running on one cylinder at those times?

Or any ideas of what I should try?

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Help? Surging at high throttle under load?

Don't know the 35, but if it has a fuel pump, I'd start there.

 

[erikpn]

Re: Help? Surging at high throttle under load?

Pulled the fuel filter, it's got some debris in it but not clogged horribly. I'll need to buy a pressure gauge to test the fuel pump. Plugs look good, plug wires and ignition coils tested good.

Timing is WAYY off. Way, way off. It's fast at idle, and many degrees slow at WOT. I think that is the issue. Haven't had a chance to test it yet, will do so tomorrow.