I let my boat sit too long and now it won't start...

[FishNotWork]

I have a 2006 Mercury 40ELPTEFI motor that ran flawlessly until I parked the boat last October and haven't tried starting it until this past weekend - and, of course, now it won't start or run. The boat has only seen light use. The engine has a Marine spin-on pre-filter with water separator (120R-RAC01).

I've already dumped out all the old gas. I'm going to re-fill the tank with fresh, high octane gasoline (hopefully without Ethanol, if I can find it). I plan on replacing the fuel filter, which looks dirty. I think I can get most of the old gas out of the lines by pumping new gas through when replacing the fuel filter.

I plan on replacing the spark plugs with three new NGK DCPR7E. How can I purge the fuel system of that old fuel?! I think I can purge it up to the fuel filter... but don't know how to above/beyond the fuel filter.

Also, I want to spray some Starting Fluid into the air cleaner and was trying to find the air-box or air-filter on the motor, but for the life of me I can't see anything that resembles a normal air filter. I'm going to attach few pics of the engine with upper cowl removed.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/8QNWjdsSGWDFvkpz6
https://photos.app.goo.gl/zi16MBk2dz5FnUpw9
https://photos.app.goo.gl/oBg7cygwLs6b1MCbA

The photo in the last link, all the way on the right, is that the air box?! Hope you can see these photos.

Please guide me on how to get this thing started once again.

 

[racerone]

Charge / replace the battery.----Doubt that you will find an air filter on that motor.

 

[FishNotWork]

The motor cranks very strong, but it just won't fire.

 

[flyingscott]

Is the deadman switch lanyard attached?

 

[FishNotWork]

Brilliant, No, it's not... I just realized that it came loose when I was cleaning the boat and I wasn't sure where it needed to connect to, but I'll find it and try again.

 

[bigjo911]

Put a high dose of sea foam into the gas, I try to get as much seafoam into the carb as possible. Drain the carb bowl 1st, than pump sea foam in. Pump the bulb or force the gas through the carb. Let it sit a day, repeat and try to fire it up a day later. Keep trying to start it without keeping on the starter longer than you should. Making sure the battery is 100 percent will be important too. This has been successful for meany times. Good luck!

 

[Scott Danforth]

sea foam is snake oil.

there is no mechanic in a can

1 year old fuel was no longer fuel.

time to pull the fuel system apart and clean it. the sludge that was formerly fuel has gummed up the system.

 

[FishNotWork]

I got some pure gas, added Stabil to it, flushed out the hoses, re-instated the KILL SWITCH.... .... and it started and ran like a Champ!

I hooked up the water hose to it and ran it for about 10 mins to be sure. It runs well. I have a fuel filter coming later this week which I'll replace also.

 

[FishNotWork]

Thanks for all the help. Happy motoring.