1964 Mercury 500 50hp backfires

[jorrie]

I fixed my no-spark problem, now I have a hard time starting the motor. Sometimes it wil run for a few seconds, other times it backfires, I think it is a timing problem. When I removed the sparkplugs, 3 plugs were 'wet' 1 were dry, does that indicate a bad cylinder or a gas shortage?

 

[jorrie]

Re: 1964 Mercury 500 50hp backfires

Problem solved, a slight timing adjustment and motor started and runs perfect.

 

[weldbilt17]

Re: 1964 Mercury 500 50hp backfires

I had the same problem with my motor a 1965 50hp merc I rebilt the distributer and timed it per old mercs website but i cant get it to even hit on a cylinder ,its firing good and im squirting gas in with a bottle but nothing, im stuck do you have any ideas THANKS