so i replaced the bleed hoses and check valves along with spark plug wires and spark plugs. the sneeze is now gone but i can hear while idling the motor seems to have a variation in idle rpm. i can hear it slightly go up and rpms and drop back every 5-10 seconds or so. is this normal for this motor?
No. I had the 2002 version of that engine and to me hard first start was just the nature of the beast, but it could have been my nature too. Usually it would be at least a month between outings. This gave everything associated with fuel time to dry out. What I started doing was to run it up on muffs before I went out the next day and that pretty much ended the "first start of the day" syndrome. It did "first start" easily in these runups, as compared to sitting on the trailer in the water.
Tell you what. Google or look up in here: "Decarb" do it and then keep Sea Foam in your tank. If that doesn't help with the varying fuel supply at idle condition, come back and we'll brainstorm some more.
The Merc manual said that the test for proper low speed carb adjustment was the hole shot. If you got a good solid shot your low speed jets were fine. If not open up till you get one....considering that lean mixture is your problem.
Last engine I had sneezing was the old OMC twins back in the 50's and 60's. I did have a '72 125 Johnson I bought new but it was 4 cyl and didn't sneeze....one super engine in all regards, but that was my last OMC. I sold it because I got tired of red band towers blowing past me all the time and went with Phantom Black all the way.
