Stalles when shifting into gear

[scooch]

I am the new owner of a 18 Ft. center console with a 1989 125 HP Force Eng. The motor starts and runs fine when in neutral, when I shift in to gear it stalls. I adjusted idle screw and the carbs, It’s at around 750 RPM. It will stay running if I accelerate quickly after shifting into gear. At high speed its runs great, tops out around 5200 RPM. The boat came with ½ tank of fuel and I added 12 gals so I not sure of the fuel to oil mix or the condition of the fuel. I replaced the water separator filter and cleaned the inline screen, the fuel in filter looked good, nice color and no water. The motor dose smoke at idle and sometime loads up. It wasn’t cranking in neutral, the shift tower screws were loose and the cable was out adjustment.

 

[12Footer]

Re: Stalles when shifting into gear

It does sound like you have bad fuel. You added 12gals to this, but I wouldn't adjust a thing until I had a clean tank with fresh 50:1 mix in it.<br />Once you have fresh clean fuel, run some decarb cleaner thru it.<br />Check for equal compression on all cylinders,and replace plugs.<br />If, the compression is within spec, the fuel is clean and fresh, and she still won't idle properly, let us know.

 

[Brew]

Re: Stalles when shifting into gear

I'd start by getting rid of the old gas and elminating it as a potential source of the problem. Then I'd take off the carbs and clean them up. Make sure none of the jets are plugged. Some aerosol carb cleaner worked good for me. Finally, while you have the carbs off anyway, I'd get some carb kits and install the new gaskets and replace the float and float needle valves that come in the kit.<br /><br />While you have the carb apart, check the tube that runs from the float bowl to the barrel of the carb. On my '86 Evinrude the tube had started to deteriorate (melt) which caused me much frustration. Apparently some additives to unleaded gas can cause plastic parts to melt over time.<br /><br />Good Luck!