1998 Mercury 25HP 4 stroke hard to start

[majordadsage]

I will try to keep this brief. My 98 Mercury 25HP 4 stroke is very difficult to start. However, I can spray carb cleaner in the intake and it will fire immediately. I do this a couple of times and it usually will start, idled rough for a little while, and then smooth out. If I do that prior to launching, I am good for the rest of the day. It starts fine on the water. It is just hard to start after it sits overnight. I have had the carb rebuilt and have made sure the gasoline was fresh.

It acts as if it isn't getting any fuel when I pump the throttle. It has a brand new enrichner??

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. I am trying to figure out what the "plunger" does at startup?? I have had the carb off and looked at the throttle body; it is functioning and not stuck open.

I can get by with the carb cleaner but I really want this thing fixed. It runs so good after I get it warmed up.

Thanks