| Weak tell‑tale stream / overheat alarm |
Clogged intake screens, brittle impeller, thermostat stuck, kinked hoses. |
Water pump kit, thermostat, intake screen, hoses |
| Hard starting / rough idle |
Primer bulb condition, stale fuel, fouled plugs, dirty idle circuits. |
Fuel filter, spark plugs, carburetor gaskets/kit, fuel hoses |
| Poor acceleration / power loss |
Prop damage or wrong pitch, restricted fuel flow, low compression on one cylinder. |
Propeller, fuel filter, spark plugs, reeds/carb kit |
| Excessive smoke (2‑stroke) |
Rich oil mix, stuck choke/enrichment, prolonged idling, cold operation. |
Spark plugs, choke/enrichment components, oil injection components |
| Gearcase noise / metal in gear oil |
Low or milky gear oil, leaking seals, impact damage. |
Lower unit seal kit, bearings, shims, gear lube |