Hey everyone, went out to the lake today for about the 10th time this year and had a little problem with my engine flooding with fuel. I have a 1999 25hp Mercury 2-stroke engine. Here is what happened. I started the engine right up at the ramp and let it warm up a couple minutes. After that, drove down the lake for about 10 minutes, not at full throttle, but close. Shut the engine down, dumped in a fish attractor and tried to start the engine again but no luck! The engine turned over, but I instantly picked up a strong fuel scent to see a little bit of a gas slick near the engine. I tried starting it for about 2 minutes with the key while choking the engine and still no luck. Tried pull starting it for another minute or so, and nothing. So I fished for about 30 minutes toward the ramp, and started the engine right up again. Drove back to the ramp to pick up another fish attractor, shut the engine down, and had the same problem starting the engine again. Let it sit for a while again and it started right up. This is the first time in the 9 years of this engine's existence that it has had any problems. Has anyone had a similar experience with a 2-cycle engine??? Can anyone give me advice on what the problem might be and how to fix this problem???? Thanks in advance for the help everyone!

My first action would be to clean and rebuild the carbs and replace the needle and seats, it's probably leaking by them. I think that motor also has a rebuildable fuel pump, if so, I would go ahead and get the kit for it also.

first off. when was the last time the plugs were chaged?

you may need new ones.

I have an 1990 Merc 9.9hp and we had this problem a lot. I was choking the motor when starting it. well, I now found out it works alot better if you choke it for the "first" start up of the day. after that I don't use th choke and it starts fine.

My first action would be to clean and rebuild the carbs and replace the needle and seats, it's probably leaking by them.   I think that motor also has a rebuildable fuel pump, if so, I would go ahead and get the kit for it also.  

I'm not very mechanically inclined and finding someone to rebuild the carb would probably be more expensive than getting a new one, BUT it is a small engine which would seem relatively easy to tinker with.  I also have a basic tool set.  Would that be enough to complete the work you've advised?  Thanks.

first off. when was the last time the plugs were chaged?

you may need new ones.

I have an 1990 Merc 9.9hp and we had this problem a lot. I was choking the motor when starting it. well, I now found out it works alot better if you choke it for the "first" start up of the day. after that I don't use th choke and it starts fine.

I changed the plugs a little over a year ago.  Maybe I can take them out and clean them up or just get some new ones.  They're pretty easy to put in, so that would be a good starting point.  Thanks.

I put in some STP carb/fuel injector cleaner and that helped a little bit, actually gained a little over 1mph top speed at a blazing 23.3mph!  Fast, huh? Just joking, but next will be spark plugs and then cleaning up the carb and replacing the fuel filter and fuel pump.  Maybe after that, I'll be up to 25mph!