My Honda is sick .

[Isabella Jane]

We had a similar problem with our BF8 but found it would run sweeter with the choke out. The Honda dealer who had done the big service previously said it likely needed a carbie clean. Having left it with him for weeks and the job not done next time we need the motor I took it apart myself ( having boned up on YouTube - it's all there) and found that the carbie had come loose on its mounting bolts, the gasket (which should have, but had not been replaced) had flogged out and it was sucking way too much air. Simple fix. Since then I have been doing my own servicing and saving $$$ with the satisfaction of knowing what I have done. Then again, no-one to blame when I don't get it right! Hope that helps.
Pete

[Ironman162]

I had a similar issue and the only solution was a new carburetor, fuel line and filter off eBay along with fresh fuel.
It was actually an economic solution compared to service charges as I did the work myself and got to know my engine a lot better for next time

[Alan Waters]

Some good outboard help here.
https://www.youtube.com/results?sp=S...=dangar+marine

[Captndave1]

Sounds to me like whoever installed the coils, may have set them too far advanced.

[ALLAN WARD]

Many thanks to everyone for the great advice .

Tomorrow morning l will list all your suggestions and start a process of elimination .

This last week while anchored off Bequia we have had continual strong gusting winds blowing offshore making it really difficult and dangerous getting ashore on the dinghy .

Thank you once again .

[bailsout]

Time to replace it with a Seagull?😊

[noblewarrior]

I would go with the previous post about too much air. Make sure the gasket is intact and the bolts tight.

[capt-couillon]

(Continues beating same dead horse)

99% of the time the described symptoms in a small horse 4 stroke are fuel... 99% of the fuel problems are dirty carbs. Jets and passageways in these little motors are extremely small and almost impossible to properly clean with a spray can. Short of ultrasonic bath, best bet is to soak overnight in CRC or similar carb cleaner then blow out passages and jets with compressed air at 60 psi or so. All else fails go to new carb and take the time to superclean the old one as a spare.

Even here in the States we have to prefilter our fuel at the pump. Non-ethanol gas usually ends up with a couple of ounces of water per 5 gallons regardless of where it's purchased. Hard to do with internal tanks, but we run at least 2 external filters between remote tank and motor as well as inline filter in the engine cowl.

Had exactly same symptoms on 4hp Nissan... Good carb clean and problem solved.... Just sayin'

[aclmck]

Yeah fuel issues but check your containers that you use for refuelling, you may have contaminates in them, presume the engine ran well after each mechanic had fixed it so something else is causing the issue start checking every thing before you have it fixed again.

[tinkrman69]

If the above suggestions don't work see if it runs with the fuel tank cap loose