Mercury 3.5hp 4 stroke won’t start

[Rjwilliams]

The motor is about 5 years old it’s always been hard to start, this year I couldn’t get it going. I’ve installed a new carburetor, spark plug, igniter with plug wire. I’ve set the gap at .008 and tried.016. I sprayed starting fluid in the carburetor, no go can anyone help with this? At this point I have about $400.00 invested, maybe I should have got a new motor.

 

[ThomW]

Have you tested it for spark? To run it needs spark, air, and fuel. Test the compression on the motor, if good, then take a spark tester and make sure you have good spark. After that, make sure fuel is getting to the carb.

If you sprayed starter fluid in carb, with no luck, seems spark may be the issue. You said you installed new plug and wire--are you getting a spark ?

On a simpler may have overlooked it note--is he cut off/ safety lanyard switch the issue?