[admas]

I have a 1981 225 mercury outboard rebuilt complete 6 yrs ago ran great. Took it out for the first time this year. Started after the forth try usual smoke at startup from the winterizing let it run lots of water out the pisser. Idled out about half a mile to lake no problems hit the throttle ran at 3200 rpm for 30 seconds then stopped dead. Retried to start ran, shut off . put in neutral gave throttle ran smooth not missing. Put into gear shut down again. now it will turn over but will not start. Sorry for the long winded story but want the brains in this forum to have all the info. please help

[j_martin]

Odds are the fuel pump deteriorated over winter and gave up the ghost.

Also could be something plugging up the tank pickup, air leak in fuel line.

Best to check out the fuel system top to bottom.

hope it helps
John