Re: starting
I had a 9.8 from 1970 to 2000. I seldom had a cranking problem. My procedure was: Prime the bulb (assume you have good gas mixed 50:1), turn the handle to START, turn the CHOKE to on, pull the cord. Mine would usually fire on the 2nd pull. Then I would turn the choke off and let it idle a few seconds and it was ready to go. The only work I ever did on it was changed the impeller (water pump) twice; not bad for 30 years; I sold it as in "good condition" because I came across a 1983 25 HP Mercury.