Tohatsu 9.8 won't start

[Tin Tin]

Inside spark cable may be corroded, swap spark cables over.

[RichKeyWest]

SOLVED

Yes, I tested the spark by putting the plug to the ground, HOWEVER I could not see I got a spark once, because the sun is so bright where I am working... I'll explain.

The only answer was the kill switch. It was vulerable to water and would cause the issue. I tested it with the ohms meter, and it was fine. I checked the spark with it connected and not connected (in the sun and couldn't see I was getting a spark with the kill switch disconnected), but two days ago when i was trying to start it, i did not try with the kill switch disconnected...

So while the ohms meter tested it fine, I tested it one more time, and turned the red button on the kill switch and got open - closed open - closed. The meter did not have enough power to arc it, but the engine did, BAD KILL SWITCH

Thanks everyone, hopefully this will help someone else.

[Don C L]

Thanks for letting us know!

[SV Confianza]

Glad you figured it out. Nice job trouble shooting.

[Joe Okros]

I would have picked water in the fuel, a common problem where I live, apparently, water is not flammable enough to run an outboard

[Happ]

Did you clean out the gas tank and replace it with fresh gas? Did you put fuel stabilizer in it? If not you may have reintroduced bad gasoline into the insides of the motor causing it to corrode on the inside.

[RichKeyWest]

Yes that was the first thing done. It was the kill switch. See SOLVED above