2012 150hp Mercury Optimax 2 stroke. Serial number 1B934227
You all have been invaluable and I'm needing help once again. I bought this at the beginning of the season with only 40 hrs on it (I assume it sat for a couple seasons without use). I was having issues keeping it running shortly after I bought it... and replaced the low pressure fuel pump, the throttle position sensor, fuel line and primer bulb, spark plugs (non OEM though), the oil filter and the water pump. I also checked thermostats (functioned fine) and bought a mercury vessel view. I run only ethanol free. The engine ran fine this season until the past few weeks... It has begun to sputter when the engine is first started / cold. It seems to run fine once I get it running / warmed up / above 3K rpms a bit. Then it will run fine for the day. But I have noticed that the sputtering is getting worse and worse each time I start it up for the first time for the day. I've now taken it out for the season and want to fix the issue. Any ideas of where to start? My fist thought was cleaning the carburetor. Thoughts?