dies when put into gear

[ironman]

77 johnson 140 horse. It starts fine..idles once it warms up. Once you put it into gear it dies. It stayed running a couple times but when I throttled up...the engine didn't rev and then died. I've exausted my already limited knowledge of these things...help please.

[boatfixer]

First time out this year or did it just happen?

Have you verified spark on all 4 cylinders?

Could be dirty carbs, bad gas, fouled plugs.

[Deershooter]

I would look at what boatfixer said first but I just came across that same problem last year and it ended up being no lube in the lower unit. Something that I should of checked before I went out didn't. Ended up replacing multiple parts because of it. I have also seen bad compression cause the same problem. When there is no load on the motor it runs great but as soon as the load is put on it it kills. Hope it is not one of these problems but those are some of the things that I have seen.

[Valv]

Also, you can check your remote control adjustment. It could be that your neutral switch is off position, and kills the motor when you put it in gear.

Put water muffs on motor, clear prop area so nobody can get hurt, and switch remote control forward fast, ending at 1/2 throttle, than back off right away.

If the motor stays running you found the problem.