Need opinions Evinrude problem

[willy]

Thanks to Spareparts diagnosed and repaired starter and starter solenoid problem on my 96 Evinrude 200.And replaced the leaking top valve and gasket on my primer solenoid. No more leaks.
Starts right up now, here's the problem. Engine will not get to idle speed, even after blowing the fogging oil out and exhaust now running normal the engine goes from 1500 rpm builds up to 2400 rpm, stays there for ten seconds or so and drops back to 1500, a few seconds later back up to 2400.
Even after the motor is warmed full up still won't cease that routine.
Tried some suggestions Dave and Todd had but still in same boat.
Any suggestions?

[THEFERMANATOR]

Is this in the water or on the hose? If it's on the hose you need to put it in the water before you do anything else to it. Loopers MUST have backpressure on them in order to idle properly, and on the hose they get no backpressure on the exhaust.

[willy]

this is on the hose in my driveway Ferm, never had anything like this before so any advise you got would be much appreciated.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Originally Posted by willy

this is on the hose in my driveway Ferm, never had anything like this before so any advise you got would be much appreciated.

Back her into the water and start it up and see what it does is my suggestion. I've seen some of these big loopers idle at 2500 on the hose then spit and drop down to 1200, put em in the water and they purr like a kitten. Otherwise you will need to clean out your idle and mid range air bleeds and re-adjust your idle circuits. Also make sure your timing base is free and not sticking as it is common for them to get sticky when stored.

[willy]

I will put it in a can filled with water tommorow and test it Ferm.
How would you know if your timing was sticking? And if it goes from 1500 to 2400 on a seemingly coordinated thing with about twenty seconds at each would that suggest a problem with timing?

[THEFERMANATOR]

Originally Posted by willy

I will put it in a can filled with water tommorow and test it Ferm.
How would you know if your timing was sticking? And if it goes from 1500 to 2400 on a seemingly coordinated thing with about twenty seconds at each would that suggest a problem with timing?

Not normally, that would normally be lean fuel mixture which will happen without backpressure on the exhaust.

[willy]

All right status report, I am up and running. I think.
Anyhow, after a very patient and knowledgeable Spare and Skools giving me suggestions it looks like the engine is going to idle at 1100 while in a barrel filled with water out of gear(no load)
Skools says that is where he sets his so I am going with it.
Found a couple of issues going on. One the timing arm going under the flywheel was sticking, a little deep creep Sea Foam and it is loose and moving free, two changed out plugs, all looked OK except the top right had some heavier fouling on it, gapped at .30 and put in. Three found a ground wire from the primer solenoid looked like it was on good but in fact was loose in it's connection, tightened it up, four, did a quick decarb with the Sea Foam deep creep spray blasting right into the carbs and cylinders and letting it sit for an hour and then starting her up and blasting into the carbs. My neighbors love me! Five found what I thought was too loose a throttle cable hook up and tightened all that up, very little slack in it now. Six, adjusted timing to lower idle speed, which it did slightly, too much and it would stumble when I hit the gas.
In the end I started it up after the decarb and I am at 1100 rpm in the water filled barrel no load and she sounds sweet.
I don't know if it was any one thing or a combo of all. Learned two things, it is good to have friends like you guys, and a lot about my engine.
I will try to get down this weekend and run her and get her blown out, she seems to be saying run me baby, run me.

[spareparts]

don't worry Willy, I'll send you a bill, I've got to get a 900 number

[willy]

send it my friend you are worth every penny LOL