Crank but no start

[Themanofsteel]

I have 150hp merc. Blackmax. Outboard.
I recently had to replace the stater. While I was at it I opened up, cleaned, and inspected all three carburetors.

Now I’m having starting issues. I struggle to start it. It cranks and will start but i have to crank it a lot.
I Removed and inspected all the carburetors again in case I did something wrong. They seem to be all good.

As I was diagnosing different things on the engine, I removed the spark plug from #1 and started the engine. It started up just fine on several tries. When I put spark plug back in 1, but NOT connect the speak wire, it struggled to start again.

Could my start issue be the timing?

 

[racerone]

Take your starter motor apart for inspection and an ohm test.--------Don't rush out and buy a new Chinese one.---Inspect first !!--------Load test your battery too.

 

[Themanofsteel]

The starter? Ok. Didn’t think that would be the problem.

 

[Themanofsteel]

I replaced the starter with another one from another engine I had. Problem still persists. Btw I spelled stator wrong in my original post.

 

[racerone]

Inspect that starter you just installed.-----Load test the battery, even if it is new.-----Inspection of the starter will perhaps lead you to the smoking gun.-----Just installing another starter just proves nothing.