20 hp mercury not starting

edthearcher · #1 September 30th, 2007, 07:27 PM

heres the deal my neighbor has a older 20 hp merc. called the 200 i believe, any way it wont start. today I went over to try to help we have gas going to the fuel filter on the side of the carb, pulled the plugs and he has some pluge you put in the plug holder and ground wow lots of spark. so I take the plugs and squirt gas into the plug holes reinstall plugs, pull cord and it fires right now, so the trouble it seems is between the carb and the spark plug. now he says he rebuilt the carb 18 months ago. but it hasent had any fresh gas untill yesterday when he tried to get it started. any one have any direction he should go. thanks ED

Laddies · #2 September 30th, 2007, 07:42 PM

Ed as you have probably guessed at this point he needs to clean his carb. Can't be of much help on the carb till we know the serial number or type of carb, they used 4 or 5 differant types or the 20 HP engines and the all have there own problems

edthearcher · #3 September 30th, 2007, 08:03 PM

went over to his house ha hes sleeping and its 6pm any way the only number I can find is the serial # 4961267 thanks again ED

edthearcher · #4 October 1st, 2007, 08:21 AM

Laddies · #5 October 1st, 2007, 09:30 AM

Thats a 1977 engine, First make sure the inlet needle is not stuck then make sure the high speed jet is clean next clean the idle pick up tube then reassemble the carb and ck the float level

edthearcher · #6 October 1st, 2007, 02:22 PM

once again thanks for everything ED