[phumba]

Hi. Am new to boating and not to familiar around motors. My 35hp Mercury (25hrs) which started/ran faultlessly suddenly developed the following problem after standing for 3 weeks. (I did not run the carb dry so 2stroke oil in carb could be a factor.) Took several pulls before starting and then ran unevenly before cutting out. Subsequent attempts to start it caused it to flood. After disconnecting fuel line and cleaning the plugs the motor started on the 7-8th pull and ran faultlessly until I reconnected the main fuel line. Motor dies almost instantly with petrol pouring out from under the (overflow?) plate on top of carb. Repeated the process several times (Takes a good couple of pulls to start). Does not want to start whilst fuel line is connected and fuel overflows whilst priming as well. Of concern was also noticing a oil leak under the prop after all the starting attempts. The motor never leaked oil before. Could this be excess 2stroke (was black and sticky) or did the propshaft seal get damaged.

HOpe it is not to serious.

[bgbass.1]

sounds like you need to rebuild carb. its not hard but a manual is mandatory. as far as the black gunk its unburned fuel.

[phumba]

Thanks. I'd better take it in to the proffesionals. What would cause a failure like that. It was serviced approximately 3hours ago and was running well, then parked for 3 weeks and all of a sudden would'nt start. Could it be because I did not run the carbs dry before parking it or could a bump while being towed have caused it. Would like to no how to avoid this in future.

[JOHN12]

Stuck float??

[Fenwick2]

Stuck float; sea foam is a option and there is another way to fix it; gently tap on float bowl. More detailed way someone else can explain as I'm only a rookey. Stuck Choke?? Pull cover to check Choke position.

[stev-o]

im a rookie myself i got a 86 cobia with a 135 blackmax and it runs great but it doesnt like to idle and its hard to start, smells like its flooding at idle ,any advice on whats happening,thanks

[buddhapi]

we ran into the same thing today with a 6 hp Mercury. the guy we had rebuild the carb had the 2 metal "flapper" pieces under the needle mixed around, and the float was coming up about 3/16" too high, which gave us major flooding out of the seep hole in the float bowl cover. now, she runs like new.