Having problems with my 88HP Johnson

[APEXPREDATOR]

THT fellas,
I'm having some problems with my 1988 88HP Johnson SPL outboard and hope you can help. It'll start up and runs well over 2000 rpms, but whenever I start to back off the throttle, it'll sputter and cough and eventually stall out...as you can imagine this is not only frustrating, but makes manuevering in tight situations difficult. I bought it about 4 years ago and I can't say when/if the Carbs have ever been rebuilt. So, I tried using a can of that "Marine DeCarb" to clean out the deposits in the Carbureators, but that didn't do the trick. I checked the compression across the cylinders, and I know one of the cylinders is weaker than the rest (120, 120, 120, 80).
Any suggestions or advice you can provide is greatly appreciated.

Thanks and happy boating,
Brandon

[APEXPREDATOR]

Any help from anyone at this point is appreciated

[SweetD]

Overall those engines are pretty tough, but it is 20 years old now. That one cylinder being off is not a great sign. Also you could be having difficulties due to ethanol in your fuel...

I'm not a marine mechanic. There is some great information here: http://www.marineengine.com/discus/m...78/12478.shtml

Post your questions on that board or search it under your make and model engine - you will get responses. Good luck -

Dave

[eggsuckindog]

Thats about where the low speed jets kick in, hate to start explaining if your not going to do it yourself and have some knowledge