[Edpowers]

Great forum -- I searched -- and used many hints, but now I'm stumped..three years ago I bought a used "Mercury Marine 75 Electric" - that's what it says on the cover...I think it's only 7.5 hp -- it ran for a year of river boating, about 5 trips -- then I put it in the garage -- added water remover and fuel stabilizer-- and last June had it serviced by Harrisburg Seaplane Base- they did plugs, points and gaskets -- it ran at home easily with a water connection, but I never used it -- end of summer I left it hooked to gas and again put in water remover and fuel stabilixer. Now I tried to start it today -- after I cleaned the plugs and tidied up some of the wiring that looked frayed by putting new insulated wire in. Engine has this # - 74918 - in raised letters on the left side, looking from front to the water. On the round cylindricalpiece on the right side are the white numbers 06 23 77. It won't start -- after I cleaned the plugs and made sure the gas was getting from the tank to the carburetor, I choked and pulled and choked and pulled -- after @ 40 pulls, and a squirt of gas into the spark plug holes, it popped once..but immediately died. subsequent 40 pulls and chokes left me with sore arm and belly and a blister. Harrisburg Seaplane base won't even look at it -- they say their new policy is not to work on engines made before 1985 -- Big Bee, another big boat place, told me I can bring it in, but they won't get to it until July -- spark plugs are dry when I take 'em out -- I put carb cleaner into the jail-house plastic bar in front of the carburaetor, sprayed WD 40 into spark plug holes, then put a few drops of oil in each and pulled the cord a few times without the plugs in....I tapped the bottom of the carburetor -- not too hard -- I'm not super-engine savvy -- the gas does get to the carb, I took the plastic piece off and squeezed the bulb -- the vent on the tank is open.somehow, I don't think gas is getting to the firing chamber --------------- and the ELECTRIC on the cover always puzzled me -- what electric? OK -- too long a post -- but that's my tale of woe -- I looked at prices on a new 6 hp engine and almost died -- I paid 900 for boat -- 14 ft v aluminum and trailer and motor three years ago -- ouch! on new motor prices -- seems to me I'm missing ann elementary point, but I can't find it -- Perhaps someone could provide some suggestions...Much thanks edpowers

[2springers26]

needle is probbly stuck.. try squeezing the primer ball real hard to pop it loose.. other wise you need to dissasemble, clean & replace

[Edpowers]

Thank you -- I think I have to disassemble aqnd clean the carburetor..right? I did squeeze the h*** out of that ball, then stopped when I read postings that warned me I might destroy the thin filter pieces -- I'll try it again in the am -- thanks EDpowers

[andrewkafp]

Are you sure it's not the fuel pump ?

[achris]

First check for spark. This is the easiest test. Plugs out, connected to the leads, laid on the top of the engine and get someone else to pull the cord. If you see spark (good solid blue ones) on both plugs then move to the carb. To verify a carb problem, after you have confirmed spark exists, squirt a small amount of fuel in the plug holes, reinstall the plugs and start plulling. It should fire and run for a couple of seconds, then die. This will confirm you have a carb problem.Good luck.Chris.............

[Edpowers]

Thanks to both -- no, I'm not sure it's not the fuel pump -- and don't know how to test for it -- tomorrow AM i will test for spark plug firing - my wife can puul and I'll watch for flame -- thanks for instant feedback...Edpowers

[Edpowers]

Ahha -- the sparks do have flame -- so it's not gettin' gas -- I have to wait until after the holiday to work on it again -- I'm going to put carb cleaner in it..and tap it a few times before I attempt to remove the carburetor -- much thanks Edpowers

[Edpowers]

Thanks to the people who responded -- after squirting carb cleaner into the carb and letting it sit two days -- then tapping the carb as hard as I thought it would take...and trying to start it again and again --- I did have spark -- and clean fuel -- I gave up -- Lakeside Marine in Harrisburg has it -- they say they are only a week behind -- very courteous reception, unlike Harrisburg Seaplane base, who seem a bit upscale and hoity-toity -- ball park estimate is $150to $200 --- ouch! how does one find the small service shops that repair outboards without a $45 per hour labor charge? -- I wish I was more mechanically inclined, but my simple tools just wouldn't 'fit" to let me disassemble the carb..............thanks again for the instant help -- ed

[Gus Mortimer]

$45/hr is alot better than where I am! Still I dont like to pay if I dont have to. Another favorite saying of mine is it never hurts to have more tools! for what you might pay that mech you could get some tools that "fit". Just a thought, on the other hand my garage is getting kinda full.