I've got a buddy with a 35 hp Mercury, but it's about 10 years older than yours. Not sure if that's any help or not, but he would like to sell it. He had it running great last year. Got it out this spring, it ran okay the first time out, but has been't able to start it since. I'm guessing he's got some bad fuel or a gummed up carburetor. He hasn't fooled with it at all, and is going to buy a brand new one. He thought he might part it out, but I really think that there's nothing major wrong with it, just a gummed up carburetor.