make sure the fuel connetor is tight on the motor or remove both mercury fuel connector ends and splice the hoses together with doubled ended brass nipple :) from ace hardware.

Tim should i tighten down the nut that holds the flywheel all they way down it can go? i hit it with the impact but didn't know if i should go all the way down. i'm having a problem now where the starter gear stays up on the flywheel gears and wont seat back down.

would my engine still spark if one of the safety switches is malfunctioning? i was thinking maybe my "run" switch on the controll box itself is messed up.

Just disconect the kill switch wires (black with yellow stripe). . . if you think that's your problem. I'll look up the torque spec on the flywheel, but I've never had a problem with mine when I hammer down the nut with an impact wrench.

I'm biting the bullet, im bringing it to a merc dealer wednesday =(