1973 4hp mercury won't run

[robert53a]

Hi I have a little 1973 mercury 4hp single cylinder. It has good hot spark and 100 psi compression but will not even give a hint at running even giving it a squirt of premix behind the plug. I also checked the fly wheel key and it is good. Any suggestion on what I'm doing wrong?

 

[fastjeff]

Re: 1973 40 4hp mercury won't run

Don't tell anyone I said this, but try a shot of ether in the carb (with the throttle wide open) after putting in a new plug. If it won't go then something is drastically wrong (blown reeds, crank seals shot, timing off a mile, clogged exhaust ports, etc.)

Your "shot of gas behind the plug" doesn't work all that well and usually just fouls the plug.

Jeff

 

[robert53a]

Re: 1973 40 4hp mercury won't run

I've fininished cleaning the carb and reinstalled it I went to check the point gap and found it to be .010" so I have to re-set those, put it all back together and try it again. Thanks

 

[fastjeff]

Re: 1973 40 4hp mercury won't run

A bit narrow, but if it had spark it should have run.

Jeff

 

[timebandit]

Re: 1973 40 4hp mercury won't run

I vote for the crank seal on a '73.