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Getting 1979 40 hp to idle nicely

M

madmax18

New member
So I took my boat and motor out for the first time this spring. I bought it last winter so this was my first time seeing it run and idle. Starts up fine but the idle is a little rough. In order to keep it from dying, I have to keep the rpm level all the way forward to pointing straight up, any further back and it dies. I am thinking I need to tinker with the low speed idle needle. If this is it, I am in need of some help on how exactly to do it and where exactly it is located. Thanks, any help would be appreciated!
 
Slotted screws in the motor's left side adjust the idle. You need to put the motor in gear, boat tied to a dock or on a trailer, and dial the adjustments in. The trick is to start with 1 1/2 turns out, then SLOWLY turn the screws in--one at a time--until the motor starts to speed up, then slow down. When it does, open the adjustment 1/2 turn and go to the other one. When you have your smoothest idle, add another 1/ turn out (CCW).

Jeff
 
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