I'm flumoxed. 1998 Johnson 30 (J30ELECS) that has been sitting for about 7 years. Just re-built carb, changed plugs, lower unit lube etc. Started it up last week on muffs and it was peeing fine. Started adjusting carb (which I now know is a bad idea on muffs) and it stopped peeing at some point.
Figured it was the water pump (never replaced) so I ordered a rebuild kit as well as a new t-stat, t-stat gasket and cylinder head gasket. Pulled the old water pump and impeller looked fine but o-ring looked shot and cup was grooved so replaced everything.
Got it all back together and started it up last night (in a barrel this time). Peeing fine at idle, though maybe a little weak, but when I put it in gear the tell tale would sputter and then quit peeing. Drop back into neutral and it would pick up again. Raising RPMs with the fast idle lever doesn't seem to have an effect though.
Any ideas? Know the water has to be going somewhere but I have no idea where.