Engine Won't Idle

[Okie556]

My 2003 75hp Mercury hasn't been started since November....ran fine then. Took it to the lake yesterday and it started fine after choking and engaging fast idle.....normal procedure when cold. After running at fast idle for a minute or two tried to go to idle position and it died. This went on for almost an hour and gave up. Felt like if I could just get it in gear would have been able to blow the soot out so to speak. Plugs looked fine. Funny thing is after I gave up and went home....discovered the key was stuck in the ignition...not stuck like debris in it but feels like a tumbler is holding it in. Was thinking maybe this is causing the choke to stick....don't think so because when it was running I remember pushing it in and it was working. Any suggestions on why it won't idle? I run Ethanol Free gas only. Thanks in advance.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Engine Won't Idle

You may have been running ethanol free gas but did you add a fuel stabilizer before you put the engine to bed for the winter? You see, it isn't only ethanol that needs to be treated. Chances are the carbs need to be cleaned as the engine is now eight years old.

 

[Okie556]

Re: Engine Won't Idle

You may have been running ethanol free gas but did you add a fuel stabilizer before you put the engine to bed for the winter? You see, it isn't only ethanol that needs to be treated. Chances are the carbs need to be cleaned as the engine is now eight years old.

I consider myself a fairly good mechanic on cars, motorcycles etc.....just new to boat engines. IS it possible to remove the bottom of the carbs and just clean gunk if any, without messing with the linkages??