Can't go over 2500 rpm's?

[THEFERMANATOR]

Bummer dude. I personally wouldn't give up on the JOHNNY-RUDE myself. Unplug the black/yellow wires from the power packs, if it still happens then it isn't your harness. You will be able to run the engine, but to kill it you will have to flood it out with the primer. Your 86 has NO slow functions to it, it doesn't even have a fast idle. Another thing to note is your engine on that boat should be swinging a 15 or 17 pitch prop. I'm only slinging a 15 1/4 X 15 STILLETTO on my HYDRA with a 200 topping out at 43 @5500 RPM's. Slightly to large of a prop WILL keep a small bore engine from pulling up under load. Another quick thing to try is to push the key in for the primer when it won't go any faster, this will tell you if it is leaning out or not.

I wish you would have decided to get rid of this thing a few months back, I REALLY wanted a small bore 225 looper for my HYDRA. I still think your current engine is a MUCH better engine than the MERCURY for your application.