Well guys I am puzzled. I put the cleaned carb back in but am still getting the same result. When pull started I can hear the engine cycle but there is no sign of life. I can't hear any sign that the engine is trying to start.

I have verified compression, verified spark (with an inline spark tester) and put new plugs in, and cleaned the carberator. I have also verified that the engine is in neutral and tried disconnecting the stop switch to see if that was causing an issue. No luck so far. Any ideas as to what I should look at next?

Are you getting fuel into the cylinders? If you pull a plug, is it wet? Did you clean or replace anything in the diaphragm of the carb? This is usually a very gunked up area.

Does it fire if you advance the throttle?

I don't feel any moisture on the plugs when pulled. Should they be visibly wet if fuel is entering the cylinder? I did disassemble the fuel pump and replace all the gaskets and the diaphragm. Maybe I need to check that again, to make sure I did it correctly.



By this, do you mean does it fire if I twist the grip/throttle control on the handle? I haven't tried to advance the throttle while starting it. I can give this a try...

By the way, the little lever control on the top of the carb is broken. It is a plastic lever that is turned when you advance the throttle on the tiller control. I am waiting to receive a replacement part. Would this prevent the motor from starting? I didn't think so but now I am second guessing myself.

Normally if it is getting fuel, they'll be wet.

Before you do anything else, I'd disconnect the fuel line from the carb and pump the bubble until you get fuel out of the hose. Then hook it back up and pump the bulb until it's firm.

I am not familiar with your specific carb, but on mine, the idle speed adjustment is done on the throttle "lever". It will not start without giving it throttle if the idle adjustment is set too low.

Might try opening the throttle by hand and seeing what happens.

I tried spraying fuel into the carb and then pull starting. That didn't do anything. I then used a small straw to put some fuel into the cylinders. The motor then started right up. It appears the current issue is related to fuel delivery and not electrical... is that the concensus?

I also noticed during the short time the engine ran the prop also started spinning (the engine was reving). The motor is currently in neutral. As it currently sits with the motor in neutral and when spinning the prop clockwise by hand, the prop spins but makes a clicking sound. It will not spin counter clockwise. Is this forward?

Thanks fir the suggestions. This time around i made sure to prime the bulb before hooking the line up to the engine. That didn't work. I tried using a wrench to give it throttle but might need a second person to do it effectively.

Ok thanks for the info. I think I have the lower unit gear fixed. I pulled it off and set it and the motor itself to forward. I then reinstalled it. Now when the shifter on the outboard is in neutral the prop spins both ways. When it is in forward the prop makes that clicking sound when spun clockwise and encounters resistance when spun counter clockwise. There is resistance in both directions when in reverse.

I'm scratching my head with regards to the fuel problem. I'm wondering if I made a mistake reassembling the fuel pump side of the carb with the new gaskets and diaphram. The diagram you posted from the Mercury book mentioned a diaphragm. The kit I got had what appeared to be a diaphragm and a gasket. I put both the diaphragm which was very thin and a brownish color along with a thin black rubber gasket.

Sounds like you got the gears figured out.

I would give that side of the carb another look while you're waiting for the throttle lever.

Thanks for the input. I will do that.

I've been thinking about the whole issue today with the carb and fuel not being delivered to the cylinders. That throttle lever control opens up a valve on the back of the carb that leads to the block. If I remember correctly, the valve is shut when there is not force exerted upon the throttle lever. If this is the case then it seems like not having the lever in place (I am waiting on a replacement lever to fix the broken part) which results in no force, would definitely prevent all or most of the fuel from getting into the engine/cylinders. Also when I got the engine, I noticed that when the twist speed control is in the start position, it did not exert any force on the throttle lever. I'm now thinking that when the engine is being started there should be a least some force exerted upon the throttle lever to open up that rear valve. Any idea if this is this correct?

The throttle lever and value is shown in figure 7 below.
Attached File

Thanks for the info KB7DX. I got the new lever throttle in. Installed it and noticed that even just moving the tiller control from shift to start moves the throttle lever which as far as I know opens the  throttle plate. Previously the lever throttle wasn't on so the throttle plate must've been closed all the way. In my very simplistic understanding of how this works, it seems like that would be enough to prevent the motor from starting. This evening I was able to get my GF to use a syringe and spray a little bit of fuel into the carb while I was pulling with the engine control on start. This did cause the engine to Rev up.

I got the motor started today. I'm very thankful for everyone's help and advice. This was/is a great learning experience fir me.

Great success!