I am having some issues getting my idle down below 900-1000 RPM. I think I have something binding in the throttle plate - maybe needs new bushings. It runs and idles fine, and I can press down on the throttle lever at the carb and it will idle down to around 800 RPM where I want it, but as soon as I use the stick to rev it up at all, when I pull the stick down it stays around 1000 RPM. Obviously I am going to keep working to correct this issue, but how much of a chance am I taking with it damaging the clutches on my drive if I shift at 1000 RPM?

I wouldn't go more than 900 RPM max. Anything over that and you start to risk damage to the clutch.

Agree with TomZ. I also set my carb's up by disconnecting Throttle Cables and getting it set/idling where I want. Then adjust the cable barrels to sit loosely on the lever. My first click on the sticks has minimal influence on the RPM's which I find comfortable for operation.

Check your secondaries.

I set idle with cable disconnected, then when idle all set, i install and set cable with a tiny bit of tension trying to close throttle harder.

Do you think it might be the secondary linkage binding, or maybe the secondary throttle plates being open a little?

I am going to take the advice and disconnect the linkage. I can press down on it and get it to sit on the throttle stop, and it idles fine at around 800. I guess I need to determine if the problem is in the carb linkage or the boat throttle linkage. Thanks for the replies - I will post an update.

The throttle lever is resistant to move from carb idle speed screw. Throttle lever also has a stop and cable is solid.Gas pedal in a car has no issue moving and stranded cable sometimes has slack and can bend with no effort. Thus why you must follow procedures most of us have detailed.

Have you verified the butterflies are centered in their bores at idle? That can resist/prevent the throttle from coming all the way down to idle.

I'll check that tonight. I would expect that to be more of an issue if the butterflies were removed from the shafts, and I don't think they ever have on this carb.