A picture would be helpful.
The older MerControls had a single throttle lever and a small coldstart lever. You would prime the motor with 50::1 fuel mix via the primer bulb, pull the coldstart lever up all the way, hold the choke button and turn the key to coldstart the motor.
To attach control cables to motor, throttle lever must be in neutral (12 o clock position). Cold start lever down.
Now move throttle handle forward. First cable to move is shift cable. That gets installed into shift slider in bottom cowling on port side of motor. An aluminum casting with a nut that swivels left/right holds it in position. Install when throttle handle is in neutral. Shift slide should be in about the center of it's travel.
The throttle cable is installed above the shift cable and should connect to the bottom of the throttle arm, with a nut. The hookup could be a bit different depending on the year of the motor.
