Need help with my 70 hp Johnson

[eyemax]

You guys have helped me out many times in the past with boat,motor and trailer questions and I thank you.I'm looking for ideas as to why my motor all of a sudden just won't stay running.It starts fine idles good but when I give it throttle it bogs down and dies.Last time I had it on the water I got the boat up on plane for a couple minutes then all of a sudden it slowed down by itself and stopped.I can usually keep it running by pushing in on the key.(not sure what this is accomplishing).I since replaced the fuel filter and the primer bulb but it didn't make a differance.The primer bulb also no longer gets hard.Any ideas????? Thank you.

[Lund AnglerMJ]

Is that a choke,pushing in on the key? I think so.I'm not that good at motors,but it does sound like a gas problem.The bulb should be full of gas,hence being firm.Someone else may have a better idea,on what to try.Look at the fuel line,that gas comes out of it,by pushing on the primer bulb.Maybe a bad connector on that.Sorry I can't be more help.Also,how long will it run,just in idle? Will it conk out,after a minute too? If it idles,for a good while,it's getting gas.Other than that,it could be electrical.Good luck.Someone else on this site can be of assistence,more than me.

[eyemax]

I couple of things I forgot.The motor is a 1991 2 stroke.I've had it idle for as long as ten minutes or so.It probably would have idled longer if I let it.Then a couple of times it wants to die within seconds after starting.But I can usually keep it going by pushing in on the ignition key.But if I hold that in too long that will kill it also.Thanks again

[Bob]

I had a similar thing happen to me and I found a pinched gas line. It does sound like a gas starving problem.

[Tom]

Pushing the key in IS how you choke a cold 70 HP engine. It's electric and the choke stays on as long as you hold the key in.