On my 23 Vanguard GDSD, what does the idle screw on the carb do versus the governed idle spring on the back of the motor? Does one set idle rpm under load? I'm just a little confused because I have been having issues with my idle under load. Thanks in advance for any help.

Idle screw on carb should kick up your RPM's at idle...

The spring from how I understand it just puts tension on the linkage so when you release the gas the linkage returns back to your idle settings

Have you checked your out of water RPM's

I wonder if we are talking about the same spring. I am talking about the spring that's on the back of the motor where one end attaches to a bendable tab and the other end attaches near the governor linkage that comes out of the top of the motor. I feel like you might be talking about the spring that goes around the throttle linkage, but maybe I am reading your reply wrong.

one adjust the idle and the other your gov for wide open rpms.

Poker1, it's not the governor spring that attaches to the governor arm. It's a smaller spring and it is actually called the "governed idle spring". I just can't figure out exactly what it does in the grand scheme of things.

This one? The stiff colored spring can be changed out for different rpm applications.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=507&hilit=govenor+spring

Nope, much smaller than the governor spring. It is actually referenced in this thread http://www.shallowwateroutboards.com/se ... s-t12.html. I just wanted to confirm the contents of this thread and its accuracy before I go to tweaking anymore on my motor. The bottom line is that as much as I seem to tweak with the two idle needs on the carb and the idle screw and the governed idle spring, I still can't quite get the thing to idle just like I want it in the water. It'll idle for a while but always seems to eventually die out on me.

That thread is for a 35/36. Not sure about a 23.

The governed idle spring sets the low point for the idle when placed under load (engaging the clutch). It keeps the motor from bogging down when the clutch is engaged.