Mercury 850 carb and timing adjustment

[Lessonlearned]

I've probably read 95% of all the forums involving the link n sync involving motors manufactured around the same time frame as mine. I just rebuilt the carbs and fuel pump and every electrical component has been replaced with CDI parts. Issue 1: Fuel coming out of the mouth of the carb. (Float level too high?). Issue 2: upon starting the link n sync procedure, I feel that my timing sticker is miso aged on my flywheel. I've tried moving the flywheel over 1 or 2 bolts to check, but it's not correct either way. I've tried adjusting the timing advance stop screws to allow the sticker to show TDC, but then the engine wont stay running. Issue 3: 19 pitch prop, 16 ft bass boat, new gauges, jackplate, 10 gallons of gas, and 1 185lb person. Before carb rebuild, TACH showed 4450 @ 32mph. 2.3 lower unit gear ratio. After car rebuild, TACH shows 3400 @ 32 mph. With muffs on and out of water, can rev to 5300 rpm with a hesitation from 3400-4000, then it picks back up. Anyone have any advice? Joe

 

[Lessonlearned]

Forgot to add. 1976 Mercury 850 thunderbolt distributorless. Serial number 4366881

 

[Chris1956]

The timing decal is indexed by a punchmark into the steel of the flywheel. Make sure your timing decal is on correctly. With a screwdriver stuck in the spark plug hole of the top cylinder, you should easily be able to find top dead center and check alignment of flywheel. If it is off, it will be off by a minimum of 45*, and you should see that.

You should set the timing accurately. Idle pickup timing is probably 4* ATDC and max timing is 21*BTDC. You should observe the 4*ATDC, just as the carbs are ready to open.