Any outboard mechanics?

[Stein]

keep in mind if you do the carbs on your big motor youll have to buy a vacuum mate to set them up. its easy to do but the tool isnt too cheap.

Is that only needed on multi-carb setups (I hope)?  My 40 Merc has a single carb that is now sitting in pieces on my bench waiting for the rebuild kit to arrive.  I'm also rebuilding the fuel pump, checking the reed valves, replacing the fuel filter, fuel lines, fuel bulb and thermostat as well as new plugs.  It's a 2004, so rather than chase things for the next few years I figured I would go through most of what can be replaced easily and for just a few bucks.  I think I only spent about $100 for everything.

[bloodhound]

yah only multi carb setups

[BigGoonTuna]

FUEL FILTERS DON'T FIX ENGINES!!!!!  IN ALL MY YEARS AS A MECHANIC AND I AM A OUTBOARD MECHANIC, NEVER EVER, EVER,EVER,EVER ECT HAVE I SEEN CHANGING A FUEL FILTER FIX A MOTOR ISSUE.

except.... on an optimax where the filter has a sensor in it and when the filter has to much water in it it will sound an alarm, changing the filter will shut off the alarm.

my favorite quote by customers when i worked in the chainsaw repair business, "i think it just needs a tune up"   i always said there's two kinds of tune ups i'd do, the ones where someone says "give it a tune up"(meaning nothing was wrong and i was just gonna take their money to put a spark plug in) and "i think it needs a tune up" which meant it probably didn't run and could be anything from a fuel line to ignition coil or even a top end.

[Stein]

Well, I rebuilt the carb, replaced fuel lines & filter, new plugs, new thermostat & diaphragm and fuel line & bulb to the tank and....it runs about the same.  Actually, above 1500 rpm it runs like a sewing machine.  Below that, an 80's Harley.

I check the manual and ended up finding a problem with the top CDM, so I ordered a replacement that should be in Friday.  It actually makes sense because i was getting much worse fouling in the top cylinder at idle which would correspond to a bad CDM.

I don't know enough about CDMs but apparently there can be failure that only affects low rpm operation.