1994 140hp v4. Hard starting and intermittent rough idling and dying.

[Berdink]

Yes holding it in while cranking

Every motor seems to be slightly different, but for mine I have to raise the throttle handle up about an inch and a half, and then just do a squirt when cranking. I don't hold or keep the key pushed in while cranking. But that's just mine.
Once the motor is warm, I don't have to push the key in at all.