wrote:
On Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:40:16 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Fri, 19 Sep 2008 01:16:54 GMT, "Chuck" wrote:

We have a pontoon boat with a new Honda 4-stroke on it. The motor idles
fine and revs in neutral but as soon as we put it in forward or reverse gear
it cuts out. Is there some special switch that is out of adjustment???
Modern 4 strokes have a lot of sensor driven electronics. They are
difficult to troubleshoot without the proper diagnostic equipment and
software. I'd take it to a dealer if it were mine.

depends on whether its a big 4-stroke or a little one. On a smaller
motor, this might very well be a matter of slightly adjusting a
needle screw on a carbuerator.



I vaguely recall a Honda ad that indicated engines down to 40 hp would
be available with EFI. But there still are plenty of Hondas of many
sizes available with carbs or, "venturis," as Honda calls 'em.

I stated earlier I thought it was the throttle position sensor. I had
the exact same symptoms on my Yamaha 225 and 150 until the mechanics
found the sweet spot on TPS adjustment.

On Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:51:04 -0400, wrote:

depends on whether its a big 4-stroke or a little one. On a smaller
motor, this might very well be a matter of slightly adjusting a
needle screw on a carbuerator.

Possibly, but a new engine presumably still covered by the warranty,
I'd take it back and get it checked out.

wrote in message
...
On Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:49:44 -0400, wrote:

On Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:04:38 -0400, wrote:

On Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:49:52 -0400, wrote:

On Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:23:55 -0400, wrote:

The symptom described, if on a smaller motor, requires removing the
top engine cover, and turing a screw about 1/8 of a turn or less.

Not anymore. These new motors are usually EFI and there isn't a screw
to turn. He said "pontoon" so I am thinking midrange (40 and up)
As I said earlier, on my Merc the idle speed is controlled by the
computer via a pulsed solenoid valve. The throttle body is completely
closed. If you pull the hose off the idle control solenoid you can rev
the engine up by controlling the air you let in by holding your finger
over the end of the hose. The computer will adjust the mix to the
amount of air it sees on the MAF sensor and what it sees in the oxygen
sensor.

For the VERY last time - I said on SOME SMALLER MOTORS. My smaller,
newer, 4-stroke motor has a CARB with adjustable needle valves.


And that is suitable for a pontoon boat?

Depends on the pontoon boat, and what you intend do do with it, but
sure it would. What does a 25 foot pontoon boat weigh? My "smaller"
4-stroke outboard pushes a 5000 pound displacement hull at hull speed
at about 1/4-1/3 throttle.


OK. I will get back to you guys next week on what the actual problem is. I
haven't been under the cover on this one at all yet.

Chuck

On Sep 19, 5:59�pm, "Chuck" wrote:
wrote in message

...





On Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:49:44 -0400, wrote:

On Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:04:38 -0400, wrote:

On Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:49:52 -0400, wrote:

On Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:23:55 -0400, wrote:

The symptom described, if on a smaller motor, requires removing the
top engine cover, and turing a screw about 1/8 of a turn or less.

Not anymore. These new motors are usually EFI and there isn't a screw
to turn. He said "pontoon" so I am thinking midrange (40 and up)
As I said earlier, on my Merc the idle speed is controlled by the
computer via a pulsed solenoid valve. The throttle body is completely
closed. If you pull the hose off the idle control solenoid you can rev
the engine up by controlling the air you let in by holding your finger
over the end of the hose. The computer will adjust the mix to the
amount of air it sees on the MAF sensor and what it sees in the oxygen
sensor.

For the VERY last time - I said on SOME SMALLER MOTORS. My smaller,
newer, 4-stroke motor has a CARB with adjustable needle valves.

And that is suitable for a pontoon boat?

Depends on the pontoon boat, and what you intend do do with it, but
sure it would. What does a 25 foot pontoon boat weigh? My "smaller"
4-stroke outboard pushes a 5000 pound displacement hull at hull speed
at about 1/4-1/3 throttle.

OK. �I will get back to you guys next week on what the actual problem is. �I
haven't been under the cover on this one at all yet.

Chuck- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -
We have a pontoon boat with a new Honda 4-stroke on it. The motor
idles
fine and revs in neutral but as soon as we put it in forward or
reverse gear
it cuts out. Is there some special switch that is out of
adjustment???

Chuck




Just a silly thought, but If the original post had included useful
info ("pontoon boat" isn't useful, neither is "new Honda 4 stroke")
like something about the year, size type and HP of the engine, FI or
carb equipped, this might have been resolved already.

Mike

Chuck- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -
We have a pontoon boat with a new Honda 4-stroke on it. The motor
idles
fine and revs in neutral but as soon as we put it in forward or
reverse gear
it cuts out. Is there some special switch that is out of
adjustment???

Chuck




Just a silly thought, but If the original post had included useful
info ("pontoon boat" isn't useful, neither is "new Honda 4 stroke")
like something about the year, size type and HP of the engine, FI or
carb equipped, this might have been resolved already.

Mike


For sure... problem is its 30 miles away from here and its my best buddy's
boat. He is not sure of any of those details or I surely would have
included them. Will have all the info next week.

"Chuck" wrote in message
news:ye9Bk.296961$TT4.101682@attbi_s22...

Chuck- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -
We have a pontoon boat with a new Honda 4-stroke on it. The motor
idles
fine and revs in neutral but as soon as we put it in forward or
reverse gear
it cuts out. Is there some special switch that is out of
adjustment???

Chuck




Just a silly thought, but If the original post had included useful
info ("pontoon boat" isn't useful, neither is "new Honda 4 stroke")
like something about the year, size type and HP of the engine, FI or
carb equipped, this might have been resolved already.

Mike


For sure... problem is its 30 miles away from here and its my best buddy's
boat. He is not sure of any of those details or I surely would have
included them. Will have all the info next week.
OK... as promised here is what I found. Engine started perfectly and revved
up in neutral. Engine barely had enough idle speed to keep running.
Removed the engine cover and tried to adjust the idle speed screw but it was
frozen. The solution: Bent the metal tang that the idle speed screw rests
on up slightly toward the screw to make the adjustment. Idle speed was
consistently 1000 rpm. and we drove it away. Thanks guys.

Chuck wrote:

"Chuck" wrote in message
news:ye9Bk.296961$TT4.101682@attbi_s22...

Chuck- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -
We have a pontoon boat with a new Honda 4-stroke on it. The motor
idles
fine and revs in neutral but as soon as we put it in forward or
reverse gear
it cuts out. Is there some special switch that is out of
adjustment???

Chuck




Just a silly thought, but If the original post had included useful
info ("pontoon boat" isn't useful, neither is "new Honda 4 stroke")
like something about the year, size type and HP of the engine, FI or
carb equipped, this might have been resolved already.

Mike


For sure... problem is its 30 miles away from here and its my best
buddy's boat. He is not sure of any of those details or I surely
would have included them. Will have all the info next week.
OK... as promised here is what I found. Engine started perfectly and
revved up in neutral. Engine barely had enough idle speed to keep
running. Removed the engine cover and tried to adjust the idle speed
screw but it was frozen. The solution: Bent the metal tang that the
idle speed screw rests on up slightly toward the screw to make the
adjustment. Idle speed was consistently 1000 rpm. and we drove it
away. Thanks guys.


1000 RPM seems a bit high for an idle speed.

Just a silly thought, but If the original post had included useful
info ("pontoon boat" isn't useful, neither is "new Honda 4 stroke")
like something about the year, size type and HP of the engine, FI or
carb equipped, this might have been resolved already.

Mike


For sure... problem is its 30 miles away from here and its my best
buddy's boat. He is not sure of any of those details or I surely would
have included them. Will have all the info next week.
OK... as promised here is what I found. Engine started perfectly and
revved up in neutral. Engine barely had enough idle speed to keep
running. Removed the engine cover and tried to adjust the idle speed
screw but it was frozen. The solution: Bent the metal tang that the
idle speed screw rests on up slightly toward the screw to make the
adjustment. Idle speed was consistently 1000 rpm. and we drove it away.
Thanks guys.


1000 RPM seems a bit high for an idle speed.

Hmmmmmm........ it seemed right at the time. What is an acceptable idles
speed for a four stroke outboard?

Chuck wrote:
Just a silly thought, but If the original post had included useful
info ("pontoon boat" isn't useful, neither is "new Honda 4 stroke")
like something about the year, size type and HP of the engine, FI or
carb equipped, this might have been resolved already.

Mike


For sure... problem is its 30 miles away from here and its my best
buddy's boat. He is not sure of any of those details or I surely
would have included them. Will have all the info next week.
OK... as promised here is what I found. Engine started perfectly and
revved up in neutral. Engine barely had enough idle speed to keep
running. Removed the engine cover and tried to adjust the idle speed
screw but it was frozen. The solution: Bent the metal tang that the
idle speed screw rests on up slightly toward the screw to make the
adjustment. Idle speed was consistently 1000 rpm. and we drove it
away. Thanks guys.


1000 RPM seems a bit high for an idle speed.

Hmmmmmm........ it seemed right at the time. What is an acceptable
idles speed for a four stroke outboard?


Your manual might tell you. The two I've owned idled at 650-700 rpm.

On Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:51:40 GMT, "Chuck" wrote:

1000 RPM seems a bit high for an idle speed.

Hmmmmmm........ it seemed right at the time. What is an acceptable idles
speed for a four stroke outboard?

My experience with car engines is that six to seven about covers the
usual range. All modern cars are FI which will idle at a lower speed
than bad carburation. My race car burns methanol, has no flywheel,
[there is a U-joint bolted direct to the crankshaft], and idles at
about 2500. And if you goose it in neutral, it grows a foot diameter
fireball at the tips of the headers.

Casady