Mercury 4-Stroke Runs with Choke Only - Novice FIXED for Free

The Mercury 9.9 hp 4-stroke kicker motor was not running well. It would start, but die as soon as the choke was pushed in. Joe and I fixed it for free. Pretty easy fix.

[@adez5143]

Hello guys! First off congrats on your successful project! I have a 03 9.9 merc that’s giving me the exact same trouble. Ran fine all last year and summer long up until I left fuel inside the carb 😭 lazy is not excuse so I’m sure that carburetor needs a good ol cleaning. any way thank you for posting, gives me confidence boost that I need to carry this project out. Mechanics will take you for a ride or won’t even look at midsize portable engines

[@mbrenengen]

You got this, just remove the carburetor completely, and find a thin wire to clean out all the passages.

[@thedudebryce.453]

Still don’t know how to fix mine with the same issue

[@charliediebel1547]

in the upper left corner of that carb, i think there is an indented screw. it is a low speed/ idle air screw. if you decide to clean that.area out, first, gently turn that screw in all the way and count the turns before you remove it. there are tiny holes and a passage way behind there

[@mbrenengen]

Thank you Charlie! We did do that off camera. If we have problems in the future we will start with that. Appreciate your comment.

[@fakiirification]

I have a sailboat with a 10 horse kicker motor as aux propulsion to get to and from the marina... ive had it do the exact same thing so many times, i literally keep a small ultrasonic cleaner and a bottle of simplegreen/industrial purple cocktail on the boat just in case it does it again when im trying to get back to the dock. So far i have not had to take the carb off the engine to clean it while out in the open water, but i have had to take the carb off to clean it out several times at the dock, I have it down to a science at this point. run seafoam in every fuel tank, seems to help extend the times between service. but if i have an extended time when i cant get down to the boat for 3-4 weeks and run the engine, without fail something gums up. I think the ethanol free marine fuel im getting from the fuel dock is actually not ethanol free.

[@mbrenengen]

That is crazy that it is that bad. It hasn't been as bad for us, but it is a poor design. Good for you for getting this down to a science. There's something to be appreciated about that.

[@ralphfreeman255]

low speed fuel circuit. main jet is usually clogged. (I'm sure it is fixed by now)

[@johnbohler3229]

It was the needle valve… you didn’t clean the jets, so the needle valve was stuck

[@unatrek2821]

... My motor is having same issue. I was thinking it was water in the line or gas, usually it goes away unless the gas has a lot of water. Always good to try fresh gas thats what Im gonna do today. Tomorrow will try seafoam. After that ummm will start spraying carb cleaner into carb. After that not sure.

[@johnbohler3229]

Idle jet is dirty … or needle valve is stuck

[@mbrenengen]

100% correct

[@tommyweaver3540]

All you had to do was take out the low speed jet under the brass screw in the carb and clean it

[@michaelroberts6299]

Having same issue with mY 9.9 four stroke took that little jet out your talking about. That little jet dosent have daylight all the way through just some holes in the side tried to clean it but seems to be made like that .Am i supposed to see daylight out other end with that particular jet?