2000 Johnson 150 RJ150PLSSC still having trouble with taking off after warm

[Levitts4]

Coming back for more help. ChampioNman has been a tremendous help, but I’m still having the same issue. I have not done the carb adjustment that he mentions in a previous thread. Back the idle jets out to 6 full turns. I did replace the fuel line and bulb from tank to engine. Did not change fuel line under cowling. I had it out yesterday and it performed a little better on the first 2 moves. The third time I started it and got on plane it was fine first try. I’m still having air in the fuel system somehow and some where. Just for sake of it, before every start up I went back to check the bulb prime and it was soft again. Pump it up tight and it would still act sluggish at first but eventually take off, which is what it has been doing. On one occasion, I took off and got on plane, ran about 300 yards or so at 40mph and it started losing power like it was losing fuel. I came out of plane and it died. Started right back up and I took back off no problem. I did pay attention to the idle yesterday and it was ~500 in neutral and ~600 in gear, but it wasn’t running super clean. Motor shaking and feeling it in the boat. I don’t think it’s lean because it smokes on initial start up off trailer. I don’t notice it after anymore start ups throughout the day. Why is my prime bulb losing prime? I think it’s a combination of the 2 maybe. Any new direction other than a carb adjustment?
PS sorry for the long post.

[fishandfungi]

Hey man, did you end up figuring this out? I've had the same issue with my 99 evinrude 225 and seen it on another 2 stroke evinrude. Both of ours were remedied by pushing in the key to activate the cold start valve when taking off.

However, when I replaced my vro pump as a preventative, my problem got worse to where it would die at idle and lose prime. I am going to switch back to my old vro pump because i suspect the new one to be faulty. I am also looking at the antisiphon valve on the fuel tank and the primer bulb itself. I'm not sure how fuel is flowing back into the tank. It is not leaking from the motor anywhere, and always performs flawlessly on the hose.

[ChampioNman]

Are you using the OEM primer bulb with the yellow ends? It may help to mount it in a more vertical position and not horizontal.

[fishandfungi]

Yes I am using the OEM primer bulb which seems to be working great. But it is pretty old I think. Do the check valves in the primer bulb and/or the anti siphon valve assist the fuel pump at idle speed?

[ChampioNman]

Once primed and started no effect all pump/vacuum draw.

[ChampioNman]

Hey man, did you end up figuring this out? I've had the same issue with my 99 evinrude 225 and seen it on another 2 stroke evinrude. Both of ours were remedied by pushing in the key to activate the cold start valve when taking off.

However, when I replaced my vro pump as a preventative, my problem got worse to where it would die at idle and lose prime. I am going to switch back to my old vro pump because i suspect the new one to be faulty. I am also looking at the antisiphon valve on the fuel tank and the primer bulb itself. I'm not sure how fuel is flowing back into the tank. It is not leaking from the motor anywhere, and always performs flawlessly on the hose.

Sure on the model year on that Erude 225? In 99 all the 225's were FICHT were direct injected so no VRO or primer solenoid either.

[fishandfungi]

98 actually. Boat is a 99.