My Mariner can be started without too much trouble, runs for a while, the choke is sensitive, it is hard to get it to idle at low revs....however, once running it goes for a while then cuts out.

Also fuel comes out of what I think is the overflow.
Seems to be something to do with the carburetor, choke or possibly the float (floading itself).
It sometimes has to be left for a while before starting again.
It rarely runs longer then 2 minutes.

I would appreciate some tips from past experience-they are apparently a fairly simple setup.

Any Yamaha or simple 2hp engine will be pretty much identical in design.

Mark, November 2008

put a new spark plug in it
then clean the carb it should be spotless and if any crud on the needle very lightly with 1200 grit wet dry clean it
make sure the float valve is also clean including the seat it goes into

ANDREW CUFFLEY, January 2009