K&B 3.5 outboard help
Ok, I'm having a heck of a time getting this motor to run right. Admittedly, this is my first outboard but it really has me stumped. It still needs to be dialed in and that's where I'm having the trouble. It's an old style engine and it starts easily and seems to run well for about 1/4 of a tank. First off, K&B says that the initial needle setting should be 3 - 3.5 turns out. I cannot get this one to run if the needle is past 1.75 turns. At 1.75 turns it still acts and sounds like it needs to be leaner still but feels like it is getting close. At this point, after 1/4 tank, the engine starts to act up. It will not run at full throtle. 7/8's throtle is fine but open it up and it bogs and dies. It does not sound like it gets lean before dying. If I try to run wide open and I let completely off the throtle before it dies I can usually coax it to keep running by slowly feathering the throtle back up. When the boat is running (the 1st 1/4 tank) it gets up on plane quickly and is quite fast and seems to be trimed up pretty close to where it should be. I've already tried replacing all of the fuel line including the exhaust presure line, the pick up line in the tank and the tank stopper and the tank holds preasure. The carb (kind of copper in color) is a real simple affair with just a hs needle to adjust - nothing else. I've verified that the carb is secure and that the base o ring is good. I have not checked engine compression yet - no guage - but will take it to the lhs if need be.
Any suggestions....Please!!!