I have a 1979 Mercury 4.5HP and I am leaking fuel someplace. I need to run this thing without the cowling on so I can tell where the leak is coming from, and also, make my carb adjustments.

Problem is, the rope starter is inside the cowling, and there isnt a sheave to wrap a rope around for emergency starting.

One person suggested I just spin it by hand but I cant get enough spin on it to get it going cause its so small.

There has to be a way to do this....anyone?

can u start it then remove cowling

I have actually thought about that. The only problem I see is trying to get the cowling straight up and off without it touching the spinning flywheel, causing the motor to stop, or worse, sending the cowling wobbling out of control whacking me in the face. Then again...maybe I'm completely over-thinking it.