Faststrike 175 won't turn over 4200, intermittent S.L.O.W., weak on guts

**Ron V** · 09-09-2024, 08:17 PM

A friend picked up a really clean and low hours mid '90s Nitro 18' with a 175 Faststrike. You know, the 60 degree looper with the optical sensor ignition. They wanted me to look at it because of a steering problem. When we launched, I got an overheat horn after a minute or so of idling by the ramp. Turned it off, no steam or anything. Restarted it, and didn't get a horn. Water pumping like a fire hose and it was also smoking at idle so I know it was getting oil. The alarm didn't go off again.

Went to get on plane and it was missing on some cylinders. Wouldn't go over 2500 rpm and was shaking the boat (I'm guessing the S.L.O.W. system is haywire). After a couple of attempts, it got running on all 6 under load and I was able to ease it up but it took about 20 seconds to get on plane. Had the midrange punch of about a 90 hp motor but here and there it would come to life for a couple hundred revs. Opened it up and got 52.1 mph on the GPS at 4200 but it wouldn't turn over that. We called it quits after a couple of passes; didn't want to push it since something is clearly wrong.

Prop is a 24" Raker and that would seem right for the rig (should run low 60s @ 5800 with 10-15% slip and that boat should be plenty capable of that). Engine height is fine also, not crazy low. I know it's a heavier boat than I'm used to and he and his wife were both on board, but even with three of us it should have kicked us back in the seat and run at least 60.

They just had a new power pack and stator put on it. I don't want to rule out a carburetion or stale gas issue as a contributing factor, but everything about it seemed like ignition. It quit instantly at top speed on the one run. But it always restarted instantly, except for once when it took some coaxing.

One thing worth noting is that a couple of times when I bumped the up trim button, it seemed like the motor actually ran better momentarily, like maybe something with the voltage load was affecting things.

I don't know anything about these ignition systems so I'm wondering if anyone familiar could point us in the direction of what to look for. Thanks.

**skialot2** · 09-09-2024, 10:52 PM

I am not real familiar with that motor. But I have had a problem like this on a 1980's 85 Evinrude. It ended up being a bad ignition key switch.

**sharpeye Mike** · 09-10-2024, 08:06 AM

I got the over heat alarm on my fast strike but it turned out to be a gas restriction. The hose was kinked and all turned out well after this.
The over heat alarm can put you in a limp mode. I found this out on last week's ride after the water intake got plugged with weeds.

**faztbullet** · 09-10-2024, 09:27 PM

Check the main jets as they like to back out a "fourstoke" engine at mid to WOT

**LoneWolfMerc** · 09-14-2024, 08:14 AM

I hear this from time to time coming from sick v6 Johnsons. First I would start by grounding out the port temp sender to keep it out of S.L.O.W At warmup. Many motors from those years would get stuck in Warmup. A timing light could easily identify this issue. That being said, you mentioned the motor runs better when you bump the trim. That engine uses a Capacitor discharge Ignition System. This system does not use the battery in any form to supply voltage to the ignition. !!!BUT!!! there is a charge- coil that lives in the stator that supply's the voltage to the charging system. The Gray Tachometer wire is famous for being "MISWIRED AT THE DASH / OR SHORTED From the Voltage Regulator causing issues like you have described. I haven't looked at your model # but my guess this is a VRO ENGINE. Don't even get me started... Not a bad fuel pump.. for about 100 hrs.. But not a good / Fuel / oil pump. I would suggest VRO DELETE.