Hello,<br />I bought a 2001 60HP 2-stroke 3-cyl Merc with 60 hrs on it this summer. It is carbed with oil injected from a top-mount tank. It has always had hard starts and a rough idle when cold. After sitting more than 2 months (upright), I recently tried to start it, and found that the engine barely cranked (SOUNDING like a weak battery). When I confirmed it wasn't the battery, starter or anything electrical, I removed the plugs to eliminate the compression. The bottom plug was VERY wet with oil when removed, the other two dry. It then turned over easily, pumping oil from the lower cylinder only. I believe the fluid was oil only, or mainly oil. After replacing the plugs, it then started (hard and smokey) like "normal," but surged and wanted to stall more than usual. The smoke cloud is always white, and this day was unbelievably big. Believe the oil in the cylinder couldn't compress, and kept the engine from cranking freely.<br /><br />Can oil from the top-mount reservoir leak into the bottom cylinder by gravity if a component has failed? Is there a type of check valve here? I am leary about making adjustments to the oil injection parts. I have ordered a manual, but I have just found this incredible website and would like to hear if this is something any of you have dealt with in the past.<br /><br />Thank you in advance,<br />BnG
