Reply To: Help locating repair facility

[Don]

Steve
I am in Providence, not that close. Yes, most dealers aren’t going to mess with your engine, and that is probably for the best. Today’s techs have little/no experience with your engine, so you would be paying big bucks for less than experienced service. I have a dealer that would help, but he is even farther away from you in Ashaway RI.
You mentioned replacing the “orifice”, does that mean you replaced the high speed fixed jet (brass jet that threads into the carb bowl/ not the drain plug)? It is difficult to replace this orifice without the proper OMC jet screwdriver.
Did you have the carb bowl off? If so, was the carb dirty/fouled inside? Was the cork nozzle gasket still in place? You mentioned rinsing the fuel tank out, was it dirty/fouled inside? This engine has a fine filter incorporated into the shut off valve which gets plugged up fairly easily, did you have the air vent open? Try removing the fuel cap and running the engine.
I’m guessing your surging issue is fuel related, but an ignition issue is surely possible as well, did you try different plugs? I would have to hear the engine run /misbehave in order to pinpoint the problem system. Has the ignition been serviced lately?
In any event, the fuel and ignition systems should be serviced in order to make this engine “a reliable daily runner”. The water pump impeller should be replaced also. Sounds like this is a beautiful engine that has nice memories for you, so it surely deserves the best care so it will run for another 50 years.
Feel free to post a video of the engine misbehaving so we can help point you in the right direction. Feel free to contact me personally also….Don