Throttle cable and various adjustments Merc 35hp 2-stroke ?1987?

[NJMerc]

Hello,
I have a 1987(ish) Mercury 35hp 2-stroke that runs pretty well, but I want to make sure that I've got it setup the right way. Once it runs for a while it can be hard to restart, so I want to just start with the basics and go from there.
Here's my question, in the picture you'll see 4 adjustment screws. Does anyone know the proper way to set these up? I've numbered them to make responding easier. I also know that I may need to adjust the throttle cable with this, so include that information if necessary.
My plan is to adjust the carburetor after verifying that these are correct.
Thanks for all your help!

 

[cwella]

For a 1987 Mercury 35hp 2-stroke, don’t adjust all four screws blindly because they have different purposes. The first step is identifying which is the idle stop, idle mixture, and linkage adjustments.

Proper setup order:

1. Warm the engine fully and put it in neutral.
2. Check throttle cable adjustment: the carb throttle plate should be fully closed at idle, and the cable should not hold it open.
3. Set idle stop screw to achieve the correct idle speed. Do not use it to fix a running issue.
4. Set idle mixture screw by lightly seating it, backing it out to the factory starting point (commonly around 1 to 1½ turns), then fine-tuning with the engine warm for the smoothest idle.
5. Recheck warm starting. If it still struggles, check the carburetor, fuel pump diaphragm, spark, and compression.

The exact settings depend on the serial number and carburetor model, so a clear picture of the screws/linkage or the engine serial number is needed to identify #1–#4 correctly.

 

[NJMerc]

For a 1987 Mercury 35hp 2-stroke, don’t adjust all four screws blindly because they have different purposes. The first step is identifying which is the idle stop, idle mixture, and linkage adjustments.

Proper setup order:

1. Warm the engine fully and put it in neutral.
2. Check throttle cable adjustment: the carb throttle plate should be fully closed at idle, and the cable should not hold it open.
3. Set idle stop screw to achieve the correct idle speed. Do not use it to fix a running issue.
4. Set idle mixture screw by lightly seating it, backing it out to the factory starting point (commonly around 1 to 1½ turns), then fine-tuning with the engine warm for the smoothest idle.
5. Recheck warm starting. If it still struggles, check the carburetor, fuel pump diaphragm, spark, and compression.

The exact settings depend on the serial number and carburetor model, so a clear picture of the screws/linkage or the engine serial number is needed to identify #1–#4 correctly.

Thank you for helping. Here is a picture of the serial number plate. It's serial number is A951254. However, on Mercury's site that number does not come up. I'm told that their site is tricky for identifying older engines.

 

[cwella]

You're welcome. Older Mercury serial numbers can be hard to trace because their online database does not always include older engines. The A951254 may need to be cross-referenced with the model number, engine details, or component markings. A clear photo of the full plate and any model information would help narrow it down.