I'd like to thank the fellas for the massive outpouring of help I got for the stranded looper with a not starting 4hp, 4 stroke Mercury outboard motor. This started some time back before I got involved. Apparently he had a totally crudded-up carburetor and had ordered a new one, based on the advice of some mechanic. While waiting for it to show up, he had anchored out back, and after meeting me, had asked if I would set it up in my yard to work on. The new carb arrived and he put it in but it would only run for 15 or 20 seconds and then shut off. I exhausted all my solutions and then asked you guys for your opinion. Whew, I got a lot of help. The overall general consensus was that fuel filters, the fuel pump, the fuel pump diaphragm or fuel lines were clogged. A few fellas said to replace the fuel lines first, so we went to the store and got 10 feet of new 1/4" fuel line. When we got home, we realized that some of the fuel hoses were factory bent, and that it would be very expensive and take a week or more to get new lines, so we tried to clean the old lines with pipe cleaners and compressed air. We got seemingly good air coming through, but the engine ran no differently. Next we checked the small plastic fuel filter and found it to be black inside. We were pretty sure this was the problem so we raced to the Mercury dealer again and came back with a new filter. Alas, the problem still remained. We removed the fuel pump and checked all lines inside and ran pipe cleaners through all places possible, put it all back together and yup, no difference. He went back to his boat for a late lunch and when he returned he said he and his wife had decided to buy a NEW 2.5hp Yamaha, and would I mind taking him to the dealer to get it? I did that and he asked the dealer if he could get anything for the Mercury on trade in, but the guy said no, they did not take trade-ins. He then asked what it might be worth, and the guy said "parts value". He asked me if I'd run an ad for him on Craigslist and sell it for him. I asked him what he'd take for it and he said $100. I said I'd make it simple and give him $50 for it and then I wouldn't have to spend time trying to sell it for him. He took the $50, took the new motor to the boat, and was gone this morning without saying good bye, or thanks. I'll let you know what happens to the Mercury, as time goes by. If you see this guy, be sure to wave. Fred, if you see him, confiscate his wine and save me some! Tommy