9.9 Merc Won't Start.

[Finns]

I'm posting this for my youngest son-in-law so please bear with me.

I have a 05 merc 9.9 4 stroke (serial 0r064498) rigged to my 09 suntracker.

I rigged the motor myself so maybe something is wrong with my controls that could cause this issue.

The issue:

I can't not get it to fire up. When I turn the key, it just cranks (turns over) but does not start.

I know it takes fuel, air, & spark.

I have spark. I grounded each plug and it did arc a spark.

I thought maybe it was the fuel line so I replace ever aspect of that. (new tank, line, bulb, fittings)

Still after that it would not prime. I did get it to get firm once but the outboard would not start still.

I followed the fuel around to the fuel pump and disconnected the line on the carb side to see if fuel poured out, which it did.

So that leads me to a possible carb problem.

I'm somewhat mechanical but I've not worked with carbs before.

Also. Not sure if this matters but, I'm using a portable 6 gal tank. I have it on the rear back deck of the toon. It sets about 6 inches higher than the fuel line connection on the outboard. I wouldn't think that would be my problem though.

I sure would appreciate any advice in this matter.

Any ideas??

[Eelpout08]

Have you had it running yet this year at all? sounds to me like junk in the carb, maybe the float is stuck closed? before you pull the carb off you can try tapping on the float bowl to see if you can free the float

[Finns]

This is a new motor for him. Don't know if he heard it run before buying.

[PerchJerker]

Did he check the kill switch to make sure it's in the RUN position?

[boatfixer]

Easiest way to see if its a fuel issue would be to squirt a little gas through the throat of the carb and see if it fires. Since you already checked for spark and have it, the safety switch is not the problem.

[delcecchi]

I agree with perchjerker, and would put my money on kill switch. It is quite possible to flip it inadvertently. Experience speaking.

[boatfixer]

He already mentioned he has spark.

[NETim]

I know my 9.9 Merc kicker is notoriously cold blooded, i.e., difficult to start when it's cold BUT if I give it midthrottle and choke the snot out of it when attempting to start it, it will start. Otherwise, it just turns over and over and over and refuses to start.

[Eelpout08]

Definitly squirt some mixed gas into the carb to see if it will fire. You have spark so that pretty much just leaves fuel and compression, barring some sort of MAJOR timing problems.

Before before putting too much time into it I would check the compression, just in case there are more serious problems. Being an '05 I would doubt that you would have major internal problems, but you never know how it was taken care of before you!

[Finns]

Update.. Squirted carb cleaner in air intake and it ran for a short time (seconds). Pulled the fuel line and fuel is getting to the carb. Took carb off and made sure the float and needle valve were moving. Is there a diaphram inside the carb that may be bad?

Thanks so much for all the input.

[soldoncass]

I had a motor that wouldn't run...it was the fuel pump. That sounds exotic, but it was just a diaghram that moved back and forth to "pump" gas into the carb(until there was a hole in it). Mine was an Evinrude, but I think they are similar. Look where the gas line connects to the motor....if there is a plate there , there is probably a diaghram behind it. A manual would help, or maybe you can find a parts breakdown on-line.

[boatfixer]

No diaphragm in there (carb), but it really sounds like its gummed up and needs to be cleaned.

[soldoncass]

You said when you sprayed carb cleaner into intake "it ran for a couple seconds"....that tells me it definitely is a fuel line problem. Double check the fuel line, bulb arrow pointing proper direction? (my friend replaced his and got it turned around ) If that checks out, the fuel pump is next...then the carb. Good luck.

[Finns]

Went for a boat ride yesterday! SIL soaked carb parts in cleaner, took guitar wire to every carb opening, put on a new fuel filter and it started. Thanks to all for the help. We needed it.

[Surface Tension]

Hurray for the SIL.