outdrive problems...new boat owner

pelhamboatguy · **Joined:** Sat Aug 20, 2011 7:20 pm **Posts:** 1

I have a merc 165 Hp motor with a mecruiser alpha one outdrive on a 1987 190 horizon. Just bought boat. Had it out today. Ran great most of the day. Then it started to bog down when in drive. In neutral motor revs strong. In drive, it bogs down with no power.
Any ideas? Really hoping its nothing serious. seriuos = $$$$

aguyindallas · **Posted:** Sat Aug 20, 2011 9:06 pm

I'm not an expert, but could it bad fuel, or perhaps a bad fuel filter? Any idea of its service history, tune up etc?

And, welcome to the forum!

Walt · **Posted:** Sun Aug 21, 2011 5:38 am

Agreed. An easy thing you can do is check/change your drive fluid. If it smells burnt, or has particles in it, it's a very bad thing, but a friend took care of his own in that situation, with very little experience (only upper bearing was damaged). Assuming that isn't the problem, you can go through the above.... Basic tune-up, fuel filter, etc. On a boat that age, you need to make sure the basics are covered before focussing on just one component.

LouC · **Posted:** Sun Aug 21, 2011 9:15 am

As noted above, make sure the drive is full of oil, and as far as fuel system problems, here's one that fooled me when I was a new boater, my boat would run in neutral fine, but put it in gear and it would push the boat to 1500 rpm that was it. Ignition, compression and carb were OK. Turned out to be the anti-siphon valve on the gas tank. It is a spring loaded valve with a check ball, that keeps gas from leaking in the bilge if the line from the tank to the pump leaks. The fuel pump has to overcome spring pressure to suck fuel out of the tank. If the valve gets corroded, then the ball inside gets stuck and reduces fuel flow...

St. Louis Dave · **Posted:** Sun Aug 21, 2011 5:41 pm

prop slip?
bad gas?
Dirty fuel filter?
Loose plug wire?
Carb issue?

Any more specific details of your day that can help?

ric · **Posted:** Sun Aug 21, 2011 8:44 pm

My boat will randomly do that... maybe once a week (I'm on my boat 4-5 days a week). Has a tad of hesitation and a tad of stumble between 1500-2500.

For me, it's a fuel issue. I run e10 pump gas and the holley carb is still on it's factory tune for E0 gasoline. Very well documented issue in the world of carburetors. I need to find an engine tuner that can come out to the lake and re-jet the carb so it runs shiny on this new gasoline. Usually it's just a float re-adjust and a step up in jet size on the mains. Maybe a tad more ignition advance too.

www.iFourWinns.com

outdrive problems...new boat owner

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