outboardguy
Petty Officer 1st Class
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2004
- Messages
- 262
I had to do some work on a boat that had partially sunk.I started by changing the oil, and verifying no water in the cylinders.I then proceeded to start it up.The boat ran fine for a minute and a half then stalled and would not restart.I figured that moisture probablt had gotten into the module in the distributor.So I ordered parts and went on with other work.<br />I installed the new parts and went to test run it, only to find it wouldn't run and was popping out the carb.I then spent the next day and a half checking and rechecking the fuel system and ignition system.Nothing was working, I was about ready to check valve timing when I decided to call a fellow worker at our other store. He asked me right off the bat"What's the firing order?" 1-4-3-2 as on the spark arrester of the engine.He then reminded me that merc had a service bulletin about the fact that they had shown the wrong firing order on the sticker.The proper firing order is 1-3-4-2. The engine ran beautifully after that, although I was a little embarrassed after chasing my tail for a day and a half. Hopefully this info can be helpful to others, I'm sure I'll never forget. 
