I've had this '86 merc 8hp for a while now and it's always ran the same way... crappy. It's always reliable and starts easily but it doesn't like to idle. Sometimes you can get it to idle but if you run it in the higher rpms it will almost always die when you return to idle speed. It acts like it's leaning out in the low rpms but performs flawlessly at WOT. The carb is a single jet w/o the separate low speed/high speed adjustments like some of the older OMCs. I put a carb kit in it/cleaned the carb and it did not change a thing. Just did a compression test on it and it's reading 90lbs and right under 90lbs. Not the best numbers I've seen but fine for an older motor with some hours.
The only other thing I can think of would be the reeds. I'm gonna tear down the carb one more time and put everything back to factory settings and see what happens. If that doesn't work boyesen power reeds for this motor are only $30. Has anyone had problems with reeds before? Any insight, tricks to try first?
The only other thing I can think of would be the reeds. I'm gonna tear down the carb one more time and put everything back to factory settings and see what happens. If that doesn't work boyesen power reeds for this motor are only $30. Has anyone had problems with reeds before? Any insight, tricks to try first?