2016 Mercury 3.5 four stroke. New old stock. Hard to start a month ago.now impossible. Changed spark plug. used muffs then bucket.. Dont know enough to start taking it apart. . Any simple ideas? No one in area works on motors that I can trust. Any help or advice appreciated. Please pm or text 972 740 1243 calls rarely get thru but voicemail works

pull the plugs and drip a little oil into the cylinders, with plugs out bump it a couple of times then let it sit an hr. or 2, plugs back in use some starting fluid at the air intake (not much) and crank it.

might want to just check fire at plugs also, after sitting that long ya never know.

thx for the info .will try it

Eric - I will try to help. First thing to check is spark. Several ways to test, but if you don't have an inline tester, pull one plug out, connect it back to the plug wire and hold the outer (metal) part of the plug to a good ground on the motor. It's much easier to do this with two people on a pull start. Hold the plug there (wear rubber gloves or hold it with pliers), have someone spin the motor over, and look for a blue spark between the electrode and the tip. Doing this in the dark is much easier. If you have a good spark, good news. If not, we can trouble shoot that too.

If good spark, take some sort of small plastic bottle and poke a small hole in the cap. Put some gas in the bottle and put a squirt or two into the carburetor. Try to start the motor. Post results from above and we'll go from there.

Ron

hi thx for all tips and help. partner paniced and took it into small shop against my wishes. They said it had water in crankcase???? and asked if it was submerged. No clue but not since he had it. Neither of us is remotely handy. He is paying so let him take it to small shopeast of athens. I think he also clogged impeller by trying to run in a bucket. Will report back when I hear more. Cant thank the fine TFF memebers enough for all your help. Appreciate it a lot