HELP WITH A MERCURY 9.9

[joeyquicksand*]

I use a mercury 9.9 on my little boat, and it usually starts on the first pull... and then i get to my fishin hole, and when i want to leave, the motor never starts... i tried cleaning the spark plugs when i got home, and it started great... once, and never started after that one time... what the heck???

any ideas on whats going on, and how i can fix it?

[Surface Tension]

Could be a few things. My first guess is the inlet valve isn't shutting off the gas and its running into the engine and flooding it out. Is there gas leaking out the carb? Are the plugs wet when you pull them? Can you squeeze the primer bulb and after it firms up can you hear gas continue to squirt into the carb? Try this, before you shut off the engine disconnect the fuel line and run the carb dry.

If the problem leads to the inlet valve then its time for a cleaning and carb kit.