Motor won't idle

[watergirl]

Hey guys!! I have an 87' Checkmate - Merc outboard 135 6 cyl. The engine won't idle. I can out it in neutral but it won't idle. HELP!!!! I got a rope tangled in mt prop earlier in the day but it ran fine and would idle all day. I doesn't make any wierd noises either. Does it need an adjustment? Is it bad? Now remember guys, it's just my best girfriend and me so no laughing at our ignorance. . Thanks WaterGirl and Watergirl's friend.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Motor won't idle

Watergirl, Usually when they won't idle, the carbs are dirty or have water in them. Maybe some dirt got into the fuel and made its way past the filters into the carbs? <br /><br />Try draining the carbs into a rag. If you get water beads, its water! If the fuel is cloudy it is either water or dirt. If doesnt get better you probably need to clean them. In vest in a service manual, for guidance.

 

[Reel Precision]

Re: Motor won't idle

compression?

 

[Gus Mortimer]

Re: Motor won't idle

So this is sudden? It just wont idle any more? If there is any more info on how it occured that would be helpful. did it run any different just before it stoped idling?

 

[watergirl]

Re: Motor won't idle

Hi, It ran great in forward and reverse. Just as we were docking at the end of the day, it wouldn't idle. I put the gear shift in neutral but it only went forward and reverse. As I said, a rope got caught up in the prop but it ran great the entire day after we cut the rope off.

 

[Gus Mortimer]

Re: Motor won't idle

check yor carb overflow to see if gas is coming out, a stuck float will let too much gas into the cylinder and flood the engine (not so noticaeble at WOT) pump the primer bulb to see if gas comes out of the carbs. <br /><br /> My boat had a stuck float for a minute and I had to do a little trick to get it started and into gear without it dying. unstuck float all is well.

 

[watergirl]

Re: Motor won't idle

Well, mine doesn't die. It just stays in gear, in the neutral position. I guess I should have been more clear. It's like the neutral "gear" just isn't there anymore!! I guess times like this it helps to have a man around.

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Motor won't idle

First thing you might want to do is check the oil in the lower unit. Ropes and fishing line have a tendency of damaging the seal on the bearing carrier. I am not sure why it will go in forward and reverse but you will probably have to take the lower unit off of the boat and verify the shift linkage is still working. Once off the motor you can manually shift it in forward, neutral and reverse. My guess is somehow the clutch got damaged by the rope and it wont clear the forward and reverse gears.