Use of starting fluid spray is not a good idea because it washes the oil off the bearings. Sprays that say they contain lubricants are better that the ones that don’t, but they were developed for 4-stroke cars, not 2-stroke motors. I have, on occasion , used spray, but very little and only once. These motors need the oil in the gas. Your gas/oil mix is 25 to 1. Oils that say 50 to 1 or 100 to 1 on the container should still be mixed 25 to 1 for your motor. That’s 1 quart of oil to 6 gallons of gas.
Dave

Complete tank hoses with connectors and a primer bulb are available from BRP/OMC and aftermarket suppliers. Please be sure the gearcase in deep in a bucket of water before trying to start the engine, even just for a few seconds, you don’t want to burn up the water pump impeller…

• This reply was modified 3 years, 10 months ago by fleetwin. Reason: addition

There is no maximum size for fuel lines as long as the connector fits the end. Anything 5/16 or larger will work, but the connector ends have to match the line. If you force a connector with a 3/8 nipple onto a 5/16 line, if you can get it on, it will stress it and could lead to early failure. A connector meant for 5/16 line installed on a 3/8 line will likely not seal up well when clamped. I’ve seen connectors with nipples in both sizes. The short sections of fuel line in the motor can be replaced with automotive gas line from any auto parts store. I don’t know offhand what sizes you motor has. Take each line off, cut it somewhere away from the end where it has been stretched and measure the inside diameter. You may find more than one size rubber line in the motor.

If you replace the connectors on the gas line with aftermarket ones, read the fine print on the package. There are connectors that look the same, but have a different size hole in the end to mate with the motor and tank. The ones with a slightly large hole are metric and fit some late Mercurys and some or all Yamahas. They will not seal up to Johnsons and Evinrudes.

Dave