It is very hard to start, but once it finally fires it is fine. Idles and runs great.
If it sits a while or if i raise the motor same thing will not start,,,,,
If carbs were dirty would it finally start snd run good?
Or am i sucking air, losing prime idk
Primer bulb pumps up and stays firm

Idle air adjustment off, enrichment solenoid not working right would be the first things I would check.

It's also notoriously cold natured.....I hold my key in for ten seconds before I ever turn it over when cold....

Just curious about the "holding the key in choke" ritual. You do know that holding in the key only closes the choke butterfly... It does nothing else. It doesn't warm the block, prime the fuel, or anything. Unless you are pushing the key while cranking, you are only wasting time. Haha.

Try this...while running the motor. Press in the key. It will die. Probably in a second or less. First start of the morning....squeeze the primer bulb until it is full, press the key and start the boat (while pressing still) and let it run on choke for a few seconds. Then release the key from choke. Let run a few more seconds as you idle around to the dock or whatever. When it's time to go....give it hell. Lol.

My Merc has around 4000 hours on it and other than fuel filters,water pump impellers, plugs, and a starter replacement over the years, it's solid. It's a 99 model.

Mr SteezMacQueen it is evident you know nothing about this motor as it uses an enrichment solenoid for a choke that alows fuel into the intake with the key turned to the on position and if your motor has 4000 hours on it you need to call Guinness book of world records.

it seems to help if my 125 is trimmed close to neutral before trying to start.
mine also need some choke.

Man...I respect EVERY bit of advice you give to folks. So, since I'm obviously ignorant on this subject, what pressurizes the fuel to allow a simple solinoid to inject fuel into the intake. Is this a fuel injected motor with a electric fuel pump?
On my Merc, it is carbureted. It doesn't have an electrical pump. If the motor isnt running..fuel isn't flowing. It probably has a solinoid like the one above. Honestly, I have never really looked at it that closely. I only imagined it worked similar to an electric choke on a car. Haha.

I better stick to fishing. Ha.

Look no butterfly

Sorry to deflate any balloons here but the enrichment solenoid does squirt a dose of fuel into crankcase to help cold starts. Holding in key is exactly what you do to make it work.

Now if you don't hear the solenoid click on when you press the key in you're going to have quite the struggle getting started. So check that first.

Plus your motor is completely different brother..... It was fun to watch Gary chop you off though

quick like a samurai. Lol that's ok.....we all have a few things we excel at....outboards isn't my area. I'm sure I could chop him back on a few things. Lol. We can all look like heroes or zeros. Just depends on the topic.

Glad to know he's here. When I eventually have trouble, I hope he helps me with my questions.

First time I've seen you slip..... Crank case, eh? (Intake, maybe? )
Just messin. I know you know your stuff too.

Well it squirts behind the carb, which is the crank case. Not sure how else you'd explain it.