1984 Mercury 25 hp wont start/backfires through exhaust

[liquidcommotion]

See if you guys can help me out with this. I have a 25hp mercury I just picked up has good compression, needed a stator so I replaced that, while I was in there also replaced the ignition trigger, and the spark plugs now I have spark in both cylinders and no fuel so I cleaned and rebuilt the carb........wont start but will get a backfire out of the exhaust. I tried swapping the Ignition coil wires as it seems like a timing issue. I advanced the trigger with the coils switched to either cylinder.......the reid valves physically looked good when I had the carb off...............what am I missing? A backfire out of the exhaust means fire in the hole so is that definitely some sort of timing issue? It's a brand new trigger.....Thanks in Advance!

Nautical Ailments

 

[flyingscott]

Is the flywheel key in good condition? Did you do the link and sync? Did you adjust the stator timing rod? Is the high Idle rod pulling on the stator?

 

[jbuote]

Not a pro here, and really only familiar with Johnson engines so this may not apply, but it sounds like a possible sheared flywheel key..
I know on the Jonsons, I can can put Cyl #1 at top dead center, and check the timing pointer and see if it lines up with 0° or "TDC" marked on the flywheel.. If not, flywheel key is sheared..

Can you do something similar on the Mercury?
Just a thought...