2002 Merc 5HP starts-and-then-dies...

I have 2002 5hp Mercury 5.0 hp two stroke that has been a dream for the last two years. After a couple of idle months the engine would not start. I replaced the plug, changed the fuel and fuel filter, cleaned/checked the fuel lines. Now the engine will cold start easily with full choke at idle speed. However, any reduction to the choke (and no change to throttle) causes the engine to race to full speed briefly then die. Also, after a full-choke cold start and brief idle, increasing the throttle (and no change in the choke) does not change the engine RPM...the engine keeps running at the same idle speed...

I've let the engine warm up but this does not change any of the behavior described above...

Thanks in advance for any thoughts or recommendations...

rod kimmel
http://www.softwareonsaiboats.com