150 XP High Revs at Start

[Karma16]

Hey guys,

I have an older Evinrude 150 XP. When I start it, even without the idle lever being moved on the control box, the screams up to 4k sometimes more rpms. I just recently bought the motor and it ran good before I bought it. Nothing has been changed as far as throttle controls etc.

This is in the backyard on the hose. The throttle is not being touched and the idle control lever on the control box is flat in the down position.

This doesn't seem normal to me and I am afraid it will blow the motor. Anyone have any idea what is going on?

[Solarman]

See if your throttle linkages at motor are sticking partly open at idle position. Motor off, see if they will move lower, manually by hand. If yes, disconnect throttle cable and see if they still hang up the same. It may be one sticking linkage, or the throttle cable itself?

If all the linkages return to the idle stop when cable is disconnected, try running motor with cable off.

If all linkages and cable return to idle stop, then idle stop may be adjusted too high?

If the computer is causing this higher idle at start, then should take it in and have diagnostics run on motor. It might be a sensor reading improperly?

Good luck.