Newbie here, so I'll apologize in advance for dumb questions or questions that have been answered already in other threads.
Engine is a 90 hp Mercury (96) outboad on a 17' Slyvan pro select.
Took the boat out after winter storage this year and it ran fine on two seperate trips. Took out a third time and wouldn't get above 13 mph or 3000 rpms. Removed prop and found fishing line on shaft. Removed it and replaced the plastic sleeve inside the prop, which was shattered into a bunch of pieces. Took the boat out again and it was better, but would only hit 4300 rpm and 25 mph. I then replace the fuel lines from the tank to the engine, including the pump ball and the water seperating filter. Replaced the inline fuel filter and the spark plugs. Still wouldn't go higher than mid 20 mph. Talked the Mercury mechanic - said he has a month waiting list - but he told me to check the spark on all three cylinder and drain the carberators. All plugs had good spark and I drained the carbs of old gas and sprayed carb cleaner into the jets, per the mechanic's instructions.
Still won't get up to speed - the tach did show it was hitting 5000 (WOT is rated for 5500 on this engine) but speed never broke 25 mph.
I'm not much of a mechanic, and I'm out of ideas. I'm beginning to wonder if the fuel mix is too rich, because I can really smell gas. Otherwise I haven't noticed anything - it starts fine and will keep running, though it's rough when I try to troll at 3 or 4 mph and after a while will simply die.
Anybody have any ideas or suggestions before I turn my boat over to the shop during the height of fishing season?
Thanks.
Engine is a 90 hp Mercury (96) outboad on a 17' Slyvan pro select.
Took the boat out after winter storage this year and it ran fine on two seperate trips. Took out a third time and wouldn't get above 13 mph or 3000 rpms. Removed prop and found fishing line on shaft. Removed it and replaced the plastic sleeve inside the prop, which was shattered into a bunch of pieces. Took the boat out again and it was better, but would only hit 4300 rpm and 25 mph. I then replace the fuel lines from the tank to the engine, including the pump ball and the water seperating filter. Replaced the inline fuel filter and the spark plugs. Still wouldn't go higher than mid 20 mph. Talked the Mercury mechanic - said he has a month waiting list - but he told me to check the spark on all three cylinder and drain the carberators. All plugs had good spark and I drained the carbs of old gas and sprayed carb cleaner into the jets, per the mechanic's instructions.
Still won't get up to speed - the tach did show it was hitting 5000 (WOT is rated for 5500 on this engine) but speed never broke 25 mph.
I'm not much of a mechanic, and I'm out of ideas. I'm beginning to wonder if the fuel mix is too rich, because I can really smell gas. Otherwise I haven't noticed anything - it starts fine and will keep running, though it's rough when I try to troll at 3 or 4 mph and after a while will simply die.
Anybody have any ideas or suggestions before I turn my boat over to the shop during the height of fishing season?
Thanks.