[kjohnco]

i have a 1988 mercury mariner the previuse owner let it sit for two years and i boght it and am trying to fix it. i have replaced one bad switch boxand spark plugs i have done compression test on all 6 cyl and they are 110, 110, 100, 95, 100, 95. i have tested my stator and all check out well except the red and blue wire wouldnt give me a reading i checked my plugs for spark and all have spark two of them have alot more spark than the rest. the coils are good, the switch is good, and switchboxes are good i believe i have good gas flow bc i pump the plum ball and gas comes out of the carbs. im at a lose for what to do next ?? also smoke comes out of the prop is this normal? some one please help when i turn key i get started to turn and crank i hear one or two combutions and then just the sound of the gears spining. i can seem to get it to turn over HELP

[flatcat77]

first after you do that check your plugs. are they wet? i'm thinking mabey your getting too much gas if thats the case. if not and they are dry. put a squirt of mix fuel in each throttle body. and put a little squirt in each spark plug hole. that might get it over that hump. mine took a few after i let it sit for a while. but once i got it running it just pops right off. once it fires over and starts pulling gas through those carbs it will keep running. plus it wont hurt any to have a little mix gas in there right away when you turn it over anyways just for a little top end lube. i'm sure its all pretty dry. report back and tell me what ya get. i dont know everything. but i can pretty much start anything. Matt

[Chris1956]

Your compression is good. Perform the ignition test for your ADI ignition. You can find the test at the CDI Electronics.com web site.

Gas spilling out of the carbs is bad. You need to completly clean and rebuild carbs with new gaskets and inlet needle and seat. It would be best to get a service manual to guide you thru.