Ferm, I have tried squeezing the bulb, but it has been a while and best I can remember I had mixed reviews about it helping to keep the motor running. Can try again and report back

Let's say I ruled out fuel pumps and suspect lean sneeze. What would the remediation steps for such symptoms?

Pull the carbs, pull all the jets, soak them, clean them them, and put em back together with new gaskets & seals.

Ok, good news and bad news. Good news first - I installed brand new fuel pumps! Bad news - No change in my issue. What do I soak the carbs in? Some KnockerLoose? :beer:

For those keeping score:
Motor - 2
BlueRunner - 0

I can't get the video to work but did you check the stator? I wish I could see the video

Not sure what is up with the vid. Step imagine the motor purring at idle, then suddenly a sneeze and poof she cuts off. I'm going to take the carbs off and get them apart and follow Ferm's advice then go from there. :beer:

I used to use evinrude engine tuner in my ultra sonic cleaner for cleaning up carb parts. We can't get good cleaners anymore, so you have to make due with what we can get anymore.

Well, finally some good news to report! I took the carbs (80's technology lol) off again. Did the same routine as before with carb cleaner, compressed air and using a wire to make sure passages were not blocked. I did not completely soak the carbs, however I filled the holes where the needles seat and the holes on the other side with carb cleaner and tilted the carbs so that would soak in overnight. Before that, at one point I was poking my wire and felt some resistance, which cleared. So I don't know exactly what the smoking gun was. The bottom carb seemed to be the culprit as it did look dirtier than the other two - cleaned them all the same nonetheless. My guess is gravity and the fact that more gas sits in the bottom carb. I drained out the carb cleaner and blew out the rest with compressed air. Put em back together and fired it up on the hose. 1st I notice it is idling WAY too high. Like 1800 rpms or something like that. Hmmm. Adjusted the throttle arm and still 1200 rpm and running a bit rough similar to before. So I backed out the carb adjustment screw quarter turn - improvement. Another quarter turn and she's at 700 rpms, no coughing/sneezing, and no cutting off.

I think after the carbs were cleaned it was idling too high because when carbs were dirty I had increased idle because it was too low.

So next will be to drop it in the lake and put it through its paces. Thanks to Ferm for making me take it apart again! I am cautiously optimistic :sun:

Good news and great timing, fishy weather on the way!!!!

:beer:

Be prepared to redo all those adjustments once you put it in the water. High idle on the hose is normal and expected on a carbed 2 stroke. You never make adjustments unless it's in the water, or the foot is in a barrel of water submerging it to where it would be in the water.