Re: step by step starting my 20 hsp outboard 1976 mercury motor
This is a general procedure: hook up gas tank with 50:1 oil mixture; have motor in water or cooling muffs attached; pump fuel primer bulb until it starts to feel firm; have motor in neutral and open throttle to start position; pull out Choke; pull starter cord until motor starts [this may take a lot of tries if motor hasn't been run for a long time]; after motor starts push choke back in and reduce throttle to idle speed to let it warm up. You may have to put the choke back on momentarily to keep it running until it warms up. All of this assumes that the motor is in good running condition to start with. Don't run it without cooling water for even a second. Good luck.