My 1962 18HP Evinrude went into the shop for a tune-up two years ago and has not run properly since. I took it back and the repairman checked it out and said he could not find any problem with it. He has replaced plugs, coil, etc.

It starts easily and smoothly, runs fine in the tank, BUT, when under load pushing my 14 foot Columbia I can only get a top speed of 6 mph instead of the 16-18 it use to get. It runs really rough as if both plugs are not firing and seems to be missing. The engine jerks like it is trying to get more power, and actually does for short spurts.

I have not replaced the plugs since they are new from the tune-up .

I bought a new gas hose, had the prop tuned, used two different gas tanks and the problem still persists.

I plan to take it back to the shop one more time, but if they can't find an answer, hope that someone can refer me to someone else who works on these old motors.

Any help will be appreciated.

First of all, who's servicing your motor? If you're going back to the same shop again and again, you may not get your problem resolved.

You might give Al at Specialized Marine in Tacoma a call and explain your problem. He works on OMC products (exclusively, I think) and is very good. He's worked on mine for the past 20 years or so & I've always been satisfied.

... and no, I'm not related to Al

I've got a 10hp kicker that was doing sort of the same. Mine sounded as if it was choking out all the time. I would get spurts of power like she wanted to run and it smoked a lot. Seemed like a fuel problem but everything checked good??? Ended up having an air leak that was causing her to run wayyy to rich..

There are a few things that you can do. You might have an air leak that could be coming in from around the carb. You may also have a bad seal, there are three of them. Two on top of the drive shaft and the third, the hard one, is located on top of the crank right under the fly wheel.
So finally I replaced those seals and she ran sweet again. The bottom two seals are generally the ones that will go and not the top one.
Now if you are comfortable will taking the whole lower unit off the two seals can be changed in about an hour. They are located right under the power head where the exhust and drive shaft come out. If you decide to do it yourself just ask whoever you get the parts from for the whole seal kit...Around $30?? That will include the exhaust gasket too.

Good luck..

Hey guys, thanks. PMartin may have the answer. I did not want to specifically want to name the shop since the problem might be one that they did not create, although it was after the tune-up that it became an acute problem. When I took it in for a tune up, that was one of the symptoms.

I'll call them and discuss it, see where we go from there. I'll also check with the gentleman in Tacoma.

If this problem has nothing to do with the tune up, I'd surely be interested in changing repair service people, since they should have been able to come up with diagnosis .

Steve's Marine Repair. 253-569-4138

Hey Sebastes,come see me at Mercer Marine and I'll take a look at it for you.I'm a mechanic there and we are an Evinrude dealer.We have 2 very good outboard tech's with 20+ years experience.Call us on Monday or just bring it by.425-641 2090.Rick

I would think that any Evinrude shop could figure this one out. I go to Nick's in Ballard, they are great.
Mark

Give 3 rivers a call. 425 415 1575

Thanks everbody, this BB is absolutely great.

Rick, I'll give you a call mid-week after I get back from Potholes . Surecatch and I are going bass and walleye fishing for a few days.