Ok Merc issues

[macojoe]

After finding the metal shavings in the filter I was thinking this was the problem? So I drained the gas from the filter to see if there was any water, there was none.

Took it for a ride, started right up, and we idled out of the harbor. Got pass the no wake area and opened her up, she went fine for like 2 mikles or so. Then I could feel her sputter a little and lose rpm's
At first I was thinking that maybe the shifter was backing down its self, but that was not the case.
drove out about 6 miles and it was sputtering on and off the hole way. Got out to a light house were some guys were fishing for tog, shut her down while I asked how the fishing was, They said it sucked and I wasn't missing anything!

So I started her up and she was on like a light switch and off we went. after about 1 mile we started the process all over again?? Then I remembered about the key switch, so I pushed it in and it got worse, I held a little long at one point and stalled the motor.
Started her right up and came the rest of the way sputtering all the way.

It would go again for a few seconds then it would start breaking up again, after a few min it would go good again then replete.

Thanks guys