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I took my 13' whaler out for the first time in a few years. I used new gas. It will start and rev/idle fine in neutral. It will even work fine in reverse. But when I try to engage it going forward, it sputters like it isn't getting any gas.

The boat has a side mounted steering wheel and throttle control. My guess is that there is a problem with the throttle cable going from the control box to the motor.

Any ideas from the more mechanically inclined would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Charlie

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Charlie, did you try squeezing the priming bulb to see if it was hard while it was running? If the fuel pump is bad, you can at least make it run for a while squeezing the priming bulb. Sounds like the carb might have trash in it (but it could be a fuel problem). Do you have a fuel filter? Have you checked it?

I understand the forward and reverse, but your throttle is limited in reverse (and it's the same cable) but in your gear selector it is cammed to operate the throttle. Pull the Engine hood and look at the carb while someone operates the gear shift (ENGINE OFF) and see if it's operating. Once you watch it in Reverse you'll see the same action in Forward just more movement.

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Sounds to me that you may have some glazing in your carbs. The first thing I would do is take the carb bowls off and clean them out. Then I would blow out the jets to clear any obstructions that are in them. After that, I'd take some carb cleaner and spray the heck out of anything carb related including the throat where your carbs attach to your power head.

Since your motor sat for such a long time, I think that your carbs are just gummed up.

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I agree with Cliff except for the part about spraying carb cleaner into the throat where the carbs bolt on. A good soaking with Sea foam might be safer in that area. In fact, I'd add a can of Sea Foam to the tank just to help clean out the carbs and fuel system.
Please fix the problem before you run it too much at any speed. An engine starving for fuel can easily burn a piston.
Mike

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Thanks for the advice, guys. I'll let you know what happens.

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I had the same problem and it was the control module, I was only getting spark to 2 cylinders.