225HO issues on my Stratos.....

[gahealey]

Okay, just for kicks and grins you experts can tell me what you think and we will see who is right. Saturday I was on the lake running my Stratos which is powered by a 2003 model 225HO. Everything is fine and it has been running good all day when I have to stop to idle under a bridge. When I come out on the other side I go to take off again and the motor seems to bog down, had no power and would not get above about 2000 rpm. I turn and start to head back at just above idle and the engine starts to run worse until finally it dies. I turn the key and can get it to fire in neutral but in gear it dies immediately. Oh, and by the way, when it first went nuts it seemed to rev above 2000 rpm in neutral but not when it was in gear.


Any thoughts?


Then when I took the cowel off to take a look I find that one of the starter bolts has fallen off and vanished and the fuel filter assembly is so loose that it is rattling around on the side of the engine. DOH!!!


Just wondering what in the world it could be.


Tightlines--


Gerry

[wardt61]

Gerry- I'm not the expert here, but I have an 03 225HO also and almost a year ago I had a problem somewhat like yours except it would take a good 30 seconds to get on plane and I could not go over about 4500 RPMs. Turned out to be the bolts for the reed box had backed out. The bolts only had two threads with lock-tight on them. Bomb replaced the powerhead as a result because the walls had been scored by the bolts. I have heard of three others who had the problem with the botls on the reed box. I'm sure the expets will be here soon to answer or provide more light to your problem. Is your motor still under warranty?

[MarkNY]

No expert here either but do know a fuel restriction will put the motor in slow mode. I had an injector bolt break off and the motor went into slow mode. get it looked at