mark: i am GLAD you checked! gas, air, hot motor ... not a good mix. your inspection is a good example of the importance of a triple-check of our motors during the off-season and before every trip. it is time for my monthly motor run so i'll be sure and check my motor - cover OFF! hope the fix is uneventful. my contact email is wdscobie {at} yahoo {period} com (or through the sage marine or my person SWEET PEA sites). :: Dave Scobie :: M17 #375 - SWEET PEA - www.m17-375.webs.com :: Sage Marine - www.sagemarine.us --- On Sat, 3/5/11, Mark House <itsmark@bresnan.net> wrote: Dave: You saved me a lot of grief with my motor! I set it up in my drive to test run, since I worked on the shift mechanism and water pump this winter. I also told you I would take some photos. This motor hasn't been started since the beginning of November. I squeezed the bulb 5 times, pulled the choke, and it started on the second pull. As before it stopped in a few minutes, and needed the bulb squeezed another 4-5 times to restart. Turns out my fuel pump is leaking like a sieve, from the removable "head plate". I had never before squeezed the prime bulb with the cowling off. I'm betting this leak has something to do with difficult priming. I'm mighty glad I have time to rebuild it before taking off on the Florida 120! Let me know your e-mail and I'll send photos of the modifications needed for a remote tank. Mark House