Mercury 3.5hp 2012 outboard hard to start due to over compression? Cause? How to fix?

[Mc Tool]

You can get an endoscope camera that fits your cell ph for naff all of the chinese .
I have seen a few of these camshaft decompressors and Im yet to see one that gives any hint of longevity . They are a flimsy looking bit of pressed steel or plastic .

 

[papatango]

I am looking into getting a bore scope or endoscope, preferably with a dual camera or mirror attachment. My gut suspects carbon build up on a valve or something else in the cylinder related to compression relief. I do not suspect the cam shaft at present or anything on it. The seemingly useless appendage is not broken and serves no apparent function. It does not seem to interact with anything, either, nor does it have any weights and springs on it that would alter its position under different RPMs. How hard would it be to completely tear down and put back together this engine? I don't have a piston ring spreader, or any other tools for the job. Do I really need those?

 

[Mc Tool]

They are not hard to strip . A good service manual is the 1st tool you should buy . I have never owned a ring spreader and I havnt broken a ring for 45 years , and you can bodgey a ring compressor out of a coke can ,a torque wrench and Bobs your auntie .