TOPIC: 1974 merc 85hp idiling issue

I just aquired a 1974 85 hp merc outboard it runs fine on fast idle,but will not slow idle.can someone please provide some ideas of what could be wrong.

Always start the trouble shooting with a compression test.

As mentioned, check compressions are all good then go through the carbs & fuel pump. Check timing is correct. If all this is good then there are some small plastic restrictors located in the transfer ports on cylinders 1-3. By all accounts these can work free & get ingested, after that the thing will never idle any sense.

I believe I may have the restrictor issue on my '84 115 as it won't idle any sense & everything else is done.

have you cleaned the cap and rotor if it has one.

end cap seals?? especially the bottom seals

if lower seal was bad it would pull water in the lower cyl.